Tesco =Hypocritical

fender

I was in a Tesco store in Wokingham this week and could not find a single British (or even European apple) in the store other than cooking apples.

The irony is that Tesco now claim to be "going green". These apples were from the farthest reaches of the planet (New Zealand, Chile etc) clocking up a huge amount of air miles to get here. I bought no apples.

Although I live less than 5 miles from the large Tesco in my area, there is no bus from my town to the store so I have to drive my car there.

Does anyone have any ideas on how we can get Tesco to carry out their pledges?

Gorgeous_George

I know there's a concerted effort to have a go at the country's favourite supermarket at every opportunity.

This argument would be better savd until apples are in season.



GG

tr3mor

Where would you expect Tesco to get british apples from at this time of year? Have you seen any orchards ready to be picked??!!

Maybe if you want to make an effort to be more green you should think about trying to buy seasonal produce from a local grocers.

gibby

Tesco claim to be UK farmings no1 customer
but they have had lots of bad press as they delay payments and upset the suppliers by changing the agreed prices.

I avoid fruit n veg from supermarkets as its not as good quality as the smaller shops - as they move it quicker.

also look out for wholesale palces - as they usually have a counter for the public
its much nicer and about a third of the cost

even cheaper - anyone can buy bulk/trade and you can get a box of apples etc for the price of a few pounds - club together with a few friends

we are veggie - supermarket prices mean a spend of £55 a week for the family but the wholesale price is less than £20.

look in the yellow pages or try farmaround for delivery of local oragnic produce.


G

IvanOpinion

I really can't see how Tesco's is being hypocritical here

Ivan

gritts

As tr3mor says, it's all about the seasons. Is the OP suggesting Tesco's should not stock apples in June or does he / she think you can buy British apples in June?

This might help if it's the latter - what's good NOW.

http://www.rivercottage.net/whatsgoodnow/index.jsp

caffeinehit

I'm not going to blame the companies for stocking products that people buy, including out of season products - the ultimate blame has to lie with those consumers who don't consider the impact of their purchases and who vote for governments that refuse to raise taxes on transport to reflect the true cost of carbon emissions.

But I get incredibly hacked off by companies that try to capitalise on the recent upsurge of interest in green issues and make themselves look like the good guys through a few cosmetic gestures without apparently making any effort to reduce the impact their activities and those of their suppliers have on the environment, or to educate consumers about why and how this needs to be done. If Waitrose can do it, why can't Tesco? Do they think that less well off people are too stupid to care?

tr3mor

caffeinehit wrote:

But I get incredibly hacked off by companies that try to capitalise on the recent upsurge of interest in green issues and make themselves look like the good guys through a few cosmetic gestures without apparently making any effort to reduce the impact their activities and those of their suppliers have on the environment, or to educate consumers about why and how this needs to be done.

This really annoys me about the supermarkets, they sell all this supposedly "Organic" produce, at a great mark up, that is shipped halfway around the world. Who on earth buys organic steak that has been shipped from Argentina?!

caffeinehit wrote:

If Waitrose can do it, why can't Tesco? Do they think that less well off people are too stupid to care?

As a general rule it's true, how many "less well off people" still buy loads of ready meals from Iceland which contain every additive under the sun to feed to their kids alongside deep fried chips.

Not that it's just these people, a lot of wealthier people just buy readymeals from Sainsbury's!

tr3mor

gritts wrote:

As tr3mor says, it's all about the seasons. Is the OP suggesting Tesco's should not stock apples in June or does he / she think you can buy British apples in June?

This might help if it's the latter - what's good NOW.

http://www.rivercottage.net/whatsgoodnow/index.jsp

Thanks for the link, that looks like really useful info, who'd have thought June was the best time for Spider Crabs :eek:

gromituk

There were pears from Argentina in our Abel and Cole box recently - but they weren't air freighted, because they never air freight. So it can be hard to find out how these things were transported, even given country of origin. If "Britain's favourite supermarket" (vomit) really wanted to help, it would mark its produce with the mode of transport used.

gritts

caffeinehit wrote:

If Waitrose can do it, why can't Tesco? Do they think that less well off people are too stupid to care?

I like Waitrose out of all of our supermarkets but they are not perfect. For example they bang on about only selling free range eggs but are happy to sell non free range chicken meat (?) I find that slightly strange....... it's all about customer demand and the need to make profit.

Tesco are going to make more profit. They might as well do it whilst going a tad greener.