As a Canadian, I've spent hundreds of dollars just to shop at Trader Joe's. These are the 9 items I swear by.

I'm from Canada and I love shopping at Trader Joe's in the US. Anna Haines

• I'm a Canadian who's a huge fan of Trader Joe's, a chain I can only visit in the US.
• I've spent a lot of money and time going to Trader Joe's, and I have a few favorite products.

American chain Trader Joe's continues to grow and expand, with plans to open at least 20 new locations this year. Unfortunately for me, none of them will be in Canada … or even outside the US.

Growing up with some pretty basic grocery stores in Canada, a trip to Trader Joe's has always felt like a vacation to the island of my grocery dreams.

I'm so obsessed with the kitschy American grocer that I once extended a layover in Fort Lauderdale on my way back to Canada from South America — and booked a $200 Airbnb — just to make a pitstop at Trader Joe's.

Over the past decade, I've gone out of my way to shop at the chain many times, and I've tried so many of its products. Here are the ones I keep returning to.