What price for our fruit and veg?

[giggirl]

It's tragic that the fire at the vegetable warehouse in Coventry claimed the lives of four firefighters. The warehouse didn't have a water sprinkler system in place and I find that inexcusable. I am sure that all the facts will come out in due course but my own knee-jerk reaction to this news is that the greedy supermarkets pushing suppliers so hard that corners are cut and health and safety becomes an expensive luxury.

I'm quite choosy about where I shop and I don't go near the big supermarkets. I prefer to shop locally in ED and whenever I do need a bigger shop I get an Ocado delivery. My perception is that Waitrose is one of the good guys. Is this right or is this just good PR? Does anyone out there have any insight into how to eat and shop ethically?

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

We buy our fruits and vegs from the local farms, I am with capricorn organics, and my boss is with Riverford ( Riverford actually deliver your products via a bike to cut their carbon footprint) we buy our meats from the William Rose, and everything else such as pasta, rice, and cleaning products we order online from tescos, ideally we would prefer not to, because ALL big supermarkets, including waitrose are a rip off, waitrose/Ocado still do not have all organic food and their labels still have lots of crap in their food, so still made in a factory! But anything fair trade is always good (but again, via a supermarket they probably still get a cut of the profits!) if I could afford it I would probably buy things like pasta, rices and such in local delis.

It is all the pre packed foods, the fruits, vegs and cheap meats and junks that are the biggest problems hence we only buy organic locally.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I'm with you on the anti-supermarket thing (obvious from my previous posts probably) but don't know enough about the fire to comment on it's root cause. You may be on to something tho....

I'm less bothered by the "organic" label on food. I understand the intentions and support most of them but it risks becoming JUST another label. And has been mentioned many times, what point organic veg from Kenya when it has been ferried to death

Meat (and the conditions it is reared in) is my priority, then the relationship between grower/buyer/supplier/consumer. Sometimes that fits the organic label and sometimes it doesn't

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

The vegs and fruits are from farmers in THIS country, seasonal vegs and fruits only, you get all the details of the farm, what they use and so on, you can even visit the farm.

You can order some fruits such as bananas but they make sure it is fairtrade bananas.

Ditto on the meats and also the fish, i dont go for the farmed stuff!

[SeanMacGabhann]

H

I didn't mean to suggest your supplier's organic/local credentials were lacking - I meant the wider blanket "organic" label as applied to general consumer world

I like the sound of Riverford - thanks for the heads up

[Cassius]

I can recommend Riverford too - the local supplier runs like a 'concession' in charge of his own customers rather than being centralised, this means that each local supplier has much more interest in keeping his particular customers happy.

I've used them for about 3 - 4 years now and on the couple of occasions the produce hasn't lived up to scratch I've complained and the next week I've had a little extra in my box.

[giggirl]

It looks like Riverford is the way to go then. I've just looked them up online and deliveries to ED are on Thursday. This isn't that convenient for me. For those of you who are existing Riverford customers, can you tell me what happens to your box if you're not around on the day? Much obliged.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

It gets left outside if you are not around, try capricorn organic, that is who i am using at the moment, she delivers on Tuesday in the evenings.

[downsouth]

What are Abel and Cole like?

[Cassius]

giggirl Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It looks like Riverford is the way to go then.

> I've just looked them up online and deliveries to

> ED are on Thursday. This isn't that convenient

> for me. For those of you who are existing

> Riverford customers, can you tell me what happens

> to your box if you're not around on the day? Much

> obliged.

As HeidiHi says they leave the box outside - the delivery guy usually puts the bin in front of it. Must say that I can't see someone legging it with a big box of veg - we've never had problems.

[Mellors]

I use Riverford and have never had a problem with it being left outside - stick a blue recycling box out if you can and they will put it in that to hide it.

Riverford have also just started delivering meat, although I have never tried it. They also bring my milk and stuff.

For meat I use:

www.devonrose.com

I get a box of meat delivered every three weeks and its great - all free range, organic and superb quality (from Devon!). You can specify like and dislikes (so you dont get stuck with anything you don't want), and can add to your order for no extra delivery if there is something else you want. Its good value as well.

I did use Abel & Cole for a while - they have a wider range (inc pasta/rice etc which is handy). However, I found them pricey and didnt think the produce was as good quality as Riverford. The benefit of Abel & Cole is that you can specify dislikes, so you dont get stuck with beetroot say if you hate it, which you cant do with Riverford although there is nothing I dislike, so it didnt bother me!)

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Ohh Look it is my boss! Hello Mellors!:))

I have to be on my best behaviour on here now!

[Elfy]

I get an Abel and Cole delivery and am very happy with what they provide. You can check the contents of the box a week before its arrival and change anything you don't like the look of. I like the more unusual stuff you wouldn't normally choose in a supermarket...it makes for a more adventurous cook!