Something Wrong in our Supermarkets.

[snuffer]

Just come back from taking my mother to visit the supermarket (biggest of the big three). Whilst there she purchased; Potatos from Isreal, Asparagus from Peru and purple sprouting broccoli from spain.

That can't be right. Can it?

[Alison]

No it's not right and one of the very many reasons why I don't use them.

[Two_Sheds]

I do shop in supermarkets, but I refuse to buy out-of-season veg.

There was a piece in the news this week about how supermarkets are putting farmers under intense pressure to produce out-of-season stuff: IN THE UK ! Consumers are apparently demanding British strawberries in February, and raspberries in March.

[julesapple]

I really miss the food seasons - strawbs in June, satsumas at Christmas. Hot Cross Buns at Easter not in December. There was always something to look forward to.

[Patchninja]

It's slightly better here than in GB, but last week in one supermarket, there wasn't any garlic that didn't come from Argentina!!! It's bad enough having to buy some articles from a long way away - bananas etc but I wish people would boycott a lot of unseasonal stuff.
I'm lucky in that I can get a lot of local produce/yoghurt/cheese here. Good veggies in the markets etc.

[The Large One]

I do shop in supermarkets, but I refuse to buy out-of-season veg.

There was a piece in the news this week about how supermarkets are putting farmers under intense pressure to produce out-of-season stuff: IN THE UK ! Consumers are apparently demanding British strawberries in February, and raspberries in March.

do you know who these consumers are that demand these things cos i don't

[Two_Sheds]

Well, they're not lining up and shouting, if that's what you mean, but there is massive demand for out of season produce, esp if it's cheap.

What happens is, say, a British apple is on the shelf (in season) and so are Israeli strawberries (as a for instance). Most people (who aren't GYO-ers) are buying the strawberries. British farmers aren't selling their apples, so they think they should sell strawberries.

[veggiechicken]

I really miss the food seasons - strawbs in June, satsumas at Christmas. Hot Cross Buns at Easter not in December. There was always something to look forward to.

I still have food seasons. I don't buy out of season, imported tasteless stuff but wait for, and relish, the first British Strawberries and tomatoes - preferably my own but, let's be realistic!
Hot Cross buns outside Easter? What's the point of that? Why don't they leave off the X and call them spiced buns? And why should Easter eggs be in the shops the week after C......mas?
Shoppers have gone mad and Supermarkets couldn't give a monkeys, as long as they can shift the stuff at inflated prices.
I'm off to cook my freshly picked rhubarb - now that's real food!

[SarzWix]

Shoppers are only demanding British strawbs etc out-of-season because they've already been brainwashed into having them year round. Now that people are more aware of food miles, they want locally produced food but have no idea of seasons any more. It will get better, especially as more kids grow things at school.

[WendyC]

My husband went to by watercress in M&S but put it down when he realised it had been flown in from the US

[julesapple]

Actually, I miss the seasons....but I won't miss Monsoon season!

I don't buy out of season stuff - political/economical/whatever reasons aside - the stuff is usually carp and tasteless and costs the earth.

[dogsbody]

Once the oil runs out we will only be able to get the stuff that is in season!

[Thelma Sanders]

we eat bananas and oranges they're always out of season in the UK

It's just a slippery slope that people are slipping further down wanting to eat what they like all year round.

Will looking at air miles stop us buying bananas ?- not unless they get silly expensive it won't.

[rinabean]

I don't mind there being bananas in the shops because I buy them. And I don't mind there being out-of-season stuff when we're not producing it, because some people want that and I can't tell them not to eat foreign asparagus in November when I'm buying oranges and tea so on. What really annoys me is them selling NZ apples in autumn, or the spring examples from the OP. I find it insulting and I don't even know why!

[veggiechicken]

The Fyffes Banana boats used to dock in Barry and I believe you could get a passage on them out to the West Indies. I don't know whether they still come by boat. I'm trying not to imagine a plane with hands of bananas on every seat.....