Supermarkets vs. Local Producers
Local producers struggle to compete with supermarkets. Photo: Emma Chapman
About 100 years ago, nearly all the food we ate came from 20 miles away from our homes. Now with transport advances, including shipping and refrigeration capabilities, supermarkets are supplying buyers with all types of fruit and veg, regardless of whether it is in season or not.
However, supermarkets are apparently supporting local producers by having a ‘local section’ present. Let’s be fair, it’s usually a square metre of aisle at the back of the store.
Ridiculously, even if a particular product is in season supermarkets have been found to still import it. This is more evidence for claims that we, the consumer, should go back to eating only what is in season to support local producers. It also makes for exciting times when fresh British strawberries or tomatoes come into season. But right now we have a constant supply of out-of-season produce.
What’s wrong with that you ask?
The issue with importing tonnes and tonnes of goods from abroad is it generates food miles. The carbon footprint and other environmental impacts that accompany our constant supply of imported produce are huge. Food is now travelling, on average, about 1,500 to 1,700 miles from their growing spot to where we buy them.
Not only this, local producers are losing out to the supermarket giants.
Granted some supermarket produce is sourced locally but is there enough? Even if local produce isn’t available, surely trying their best to keep their suppliers within the UK would be best?
Services like Fresh from the Fields in Lincoln, supply local goods for a fraction of the price supermarkets do. Not only does this save us money but it supports the local farmers in not having to battle supermarkets for reasonable prices and having to meet their ‘Class A or One’ specification.
Who cares if a carrot is misshapen? Doesn’t it all taste and look the same on the plate? Sometimes it’s better if all the growing effort has gone into flavour rather than appearance.
Supermarkets have strict specifications which define the ‘perfect’ shape, size and colour of products which are causing mass amounts of fine produce to be discarded based on its appearances. Therefore, farmers that devote their entire crop to supplying supermarkets lose out on income and fall victim to large corporate businesses who can dictate what is acceptable.
It’s not just fruit and veg in suprmarkets we’re talking about, it’s other produce which has an impact. Issues are circling around packaging as well as the actual product inside it. Sainsbury’s has recently been targeted for un-necessary packaging.
Lincolnshire is the biggest agricultural county in the UK, we have mounds of produce on our door steps, we just need to go to these local suppliers and farmers’ market to reap the benefits.