Avoiding supermarkets; what are the alternatives?

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Avoiding supermarkets; what are the alternatives?
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Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 2:46 pm Post subject:

Katieowl wrote:

All my nearby Bookers are an hour away, but I had intended to check them out anyway. I did gather together some paperwork from OH's business to join, as I don't have stuff for the B&B yet, but never happened

I'd get stuff in bulk from Bookers, but I don't have a business so I can't join.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 2:47 pm Post subject:
You don't need to have much of a business. School PTFAs can get a booker card.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 2:52 pm Post subject:
Or you must have a self-employed friend, or if not start a food group/business.

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 3:01 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

Or you must have a self-employed friend, .

I don't have any friends.

Addiscomber

Joined: 25 Jan 2009
Posts: 4

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 4:47 pm Post subject:

Jamanda wrote:

Hmm. If you live in a city you generally have more shopping options than living in a field in the middle of no-where.

You would think so, but it ain't necessarily so. We have supermarkets galore and a few independent convenience stores, but they sell the same type of goods only at higher prices. Luckily we still have our very good butcher, and a greengrocer, but there are no local producers at all, let alone organic, when for miles in all directions is built up.

Jamanda wrote:

Nat and Rob might be OK for meat, but they still need veg and bog roll.

It has always puzzled me as to why fresh veg seems to be hard to get hold of, and expensive, in rural areas, where you would think it would be the opposite.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 5:26 pm Post subject:
Because most areas don't grow veg commercially. Round here is/was primarily a dairying area. There's one market garden within striking distance of us.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 5:34 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

Because most areas don't grow veg commercially. Round here is/was primarily a dairying area. There's one market garden within striking distance of us.

Do you think there would be realistic demand in your area for more local grown veg? Either traditional or more exotic?

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 5:37 pm Post subject:
Yep, definitely as far as I can tell. Chickem works for them so she might be better placed to judge but I reckon there would be a market.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 5:37 pm Post subject:

lassemista wrote:

Re small quantities of meat-
Do you have any like minded friends who you could split an order with?

Not unless we travel a fair bit delivering it which defeats the object really. We've done it with Suma orders, often taking orders from several people but non perishable items are easier to store and get to people.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 5:41 pm Post subject:
How much is not much (meat)?

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 5:46 pm Post subject:

Lots of market gardens around here - the local Waitrose and Tesco's flog F&V grown within 10 miles of the stores (in addition to all the imported stuff, of course). I do sometimes wonder if it's driven twice round the country in their packing/distribution network before it gets into the stores, but they've obviously picked up on the marketing potential of local produce. Small shops don't make a big thing of local produce though, so I assume it's mostly warehoused stuff they are selling.

OP

Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 4661
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 7:20 pm Post subject:

When I researched this a few years ago most greengrocers were getting their orchard fruit supplies from wholesale F&V markets, although some supplemented it with locally-grown stuff in season. I recently noticed our local Sainsbury's were selling "local" potatoes, grown about 20 miles away, which I suppose is local, but like marigold I did wonder what actual route they had taken to get here. Still it is probably a good thing.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 7:35 pm Post subject:
Where were they grown? When East Riding Farm Produce was still going they could have come 7 miles, although they were also going as far as spain and also coming up from the fens to be processed.

OP

Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 4661
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 10 7:03 am Post subject:
I think it was Middleton on the Wolds, I'll check next time I am there.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 10 8:56 am Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

How much is not much (meat)?

On average I think I only eat 200 - 300g of meat a week. I could eat more but I don't tend to have as much as most people.

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