Panama - Pacific Crossing Notes: A Sailor's Guide to the Coconut Milk Run - page 201

While you'll find basics such as rice, flour, and milk powder everywhere, some speciality
items are particularly expensive or hard to find in the Pacific. Items that get expensive
after Panama include cheese, canned butter, olives, pickles, dried fruit, nuts, and sun-
flower seeds, so stock up before departing the Americas. Wine is incredibly expensive in
French Polynesia, so carry as much as you can for personal consumption or to trade for
fruit, carvings, etc. Bakers should stock up on specialty items like whole wheat flour, oat
bran, flax, spray-on cooking oil, bake mixes and chocolate chips.
Panama was the only place I found canned red peppers which gave meals some variety. If
you like quality oil, vinegar, mustard, canned ham, quinoa, sprouting seeds, or a particular
brand of cereal, stock up in Panama. Likewise, get a good supply of baby wipes and
household cleansing wipes before you depart.
And that's just as far as the household goods are concerned! Spare parts for all boat sys-
tems and a huge supply of sealant go without saying.
It pays to carry a selection of gift items for the islanders you'll meet along the way. In our
experience, few islanders were interested in fish hooks. Lengths of fishing line and rope,
on the other hand, make great gifts or trade items just about everywhere, as do cosmetics.
We brought magic markers to give to island kids, though many expressed a wish for a pair
of Crocs or similar sandals. If you have the space to carry a few pairs, they'd make good
gifts for special occasions.
[#1] http://www.dimarsa.com
[#2] http://www.centromarino.com
[#3] http://www.marinewarehouse.net