Supermarkets have a lot to answer for....

[Snadger]

I keep bringing veg home from my lottie which is grown almost organically and as such is not perfect!
Cauli's have to be checked for caterpiller, french beans aren't exactly 4" long and straight to fit in a Tesco's punnet,tatties have a slug hole here and there and a bit of scab, and you need to cut bits of the carrots where they were attacked by the fly!
All of the above seem quite minor things to me and are amply made up for in taste and freshness.
Are we not being duped by the supermarkets into thinking the pre-packed iradiated crap they are selling is what food should look and taste like?
My family have yet to be convinced of this and I have come to believe i have made a rod for my own back because now, not am I only growing the veg, I am preparing it.!

How long before all children will see what is on the supermarket shelves and believe all vegetables come out of the ground looking so pristine!!!!Ahhhhh

Give me a hens egg with a bit of sh*t on it anyday!!!

[JazzDuke]

No, you're not being duped, sadly it's what many people want. They don't care about flavour it's the look that counts. If it doesn't look good it doesn't sell.

[Lesley Jay]

Snadger I agree with you completely!

[MissyMoo]

I would say it's what people know rather than what they want exactly.
Call me an optimist but I believe that no one, once they know the reasons and logic, would willingly continue feeding crap into their bodies.
Many people are stuck, unable to think due to the bombardment of advertising and unable to change for want of knowledge.
It's up to us (the chosen few ) to educate and spread the word.

[Earthbabe]

I think that's why so many more are frequenting farm shops, farmers' markets, buying organic and also why gardening and particularly veg growing is seeing such a resurgence. We are starting to see a backlash. Indeed Waitrose are now selling the less perfect fruit for jams etc. Nothing to stop you buying it to eat, it's cheaper.

I work with a lot of migrant workers who are used to people growing their own in their home countries that some of them want to see my allotment cos they think it's great that someone from this country (although I'm not really) grows their own to such an extent. In fact anything I take in to share (toms etc.) just disappears because they recognise the difference.

I love it. I've shared ideas for seeds etc. with both colleagues and patients and may even offer plants next year.

Up the revolution..... I'm "waiting for the great leap forward."

[multiveg]

Tescos profit

[Earthbabe]

Exactly, and that's with all the so called offers. Who is really reaping the benefits and what about the producer? I know a family with farms owned by various members and they get nowhere near what it takes to produce stuff given the strict requirements of the supermarkets.

[Squirrel]

That is what annoys me so much! No-one listens when the farmer starts on about how much he gets for his produce, they just turn a deaf ear! And then Tesco can post profits like they have done today! Aaargh

[Earthbabe]

There was some talk in Ethical Consumer about extending the Fairtrade logo to cover british produce especially meat. Will have to have to look to see how far that got.

[multiveg]

We go to a supermarket, stick goodies in the basket, and PAY at the checkout. The supermarket orders goodies, you buy them and even then, they might not have even paid the supplier for the goods.

[valmarg]

The bit that gets me, is when you see signs in Tesco saying 'we check our prices against Sainsburys', and signs in Sainsburys saying 'we check our prices against Tesco'.

Basically what they are both saying is that 'we all are running a cartel'.

[yoanbob]

i'm with you guys, whats wrong with real veg.
did anyone see that study in the paper about 18 months ago about city kids not knowing what a carrot looked like?
what is the world coming too?

[dexterdoglancashire]

Well said everyone! I agree! Bring on the farmers markets and small holders stalls! DDL

[Mrs Dobby]

Produce from Farmers Markest always tastes sooo much better in my humble opinion, and I can remember as a child loving to pick fresh veg with my Nan and Dad, it tasted soo good, just a shame most of the mass produced supermarket veg doesnt taste anywhere near as nice! Perhaps if it did children would actually eat veg by choice rather than having to be forced into it at school!

[JazzDuke]

Sadly the British consumer does not like paying for food. The supermarkets would not sell cheap, tasteless, perfect looking veg if it was not what people want. How anyone but those on the poverty line (which honestly is not that many) can regularly eat battery chicken for example is further proof of this.

By the nature of this forum we are not typical food consumers. However we need to keep this quiet, if demand for tasty seasonal veg and meat reared under humane conditions becomes more popular then the price is liable to go up rather down imho.