2012 no supermarket shop challenge

bearcub

We do grow a lot of our own fruit and veg, although our garden is tiny. We don't have the space to grow most winter veg, but we've had pounds of fruit from our blackberry and raspberry plants, and we've exchanged some of that for apples that we've sliced and frozen. We have quite a few bags of frozen toms, too, to use with pasta and other meals. Since we live in a rural area, we find that we can often buy other fruit and veg at the gate of private houses in summer/autumn, all of which helps. As I said, though, our local Co op sells local produce, and we want to support local farmers and other businesses as much as possible. The IOW really struggles with employment issues. I really can't be bothered with learning to produce decent quality bread with a breadmaker, when I know I can buy fairly decent fresh bread from the Co op.

Our farm shop sells the most wonderful local meat ie all IOW, and it can be a bit pricey (depending on what we buy), but we actually eat less of it, so the cost works out much the same.

It's actually difficult to shop frequently at the big four supermarkets as they're all too far away, and I wouldn't shop at Tesco if they paid me! We only shop in Morrisons when we need to go to town for other shopping. In the end, we have to balance the cost of petrol against the higher prices we pay locally, and very often laziness wins!

Kantankrus_Mare

Im with you on principle and will be watching with interest.

My only problem is time.

Some weeks i dont mind shopping around to avoid one big supermarket shop but others, especially when tesco and sainsbury send me vouchers for shopping on line with them, its too tempting.

Ive also had plenty of use over the years from tesco points ( yes I know I probably pay for them in with my shopping)

On the plus side, I have milk brought to me door by a milkman....use a good local butcher and I have an allotment which I love.

Have also just discovered Aldi and will be trying to use them a little more in the new year.

the_cat

Interesting thread! We have a much expanded Mr M opening in our town in a couple of months, so our already depleted high street is even more under threat I guess - unless the increase in footfall has a knock on effect?

I'm going to do a version of this to do my bit. Spend in the high street where possible (including the Lidl and Iceland which will perhaps be under more pressure) and use the big 4 for whoopsies and special offers only...... I like the idea of them actually making a loss out of me or at least breaking even:p. Very lucky in that I am close enough to a cheap farm shop which also do a host of groceries plus have Home bargains, makro and ethnic supermarket to check out. To my shame I haven't got around to trying any of these yet:o

A._Badger

I'm somewhat mind-bogged to see someone mention the Co-Op. Maybe it varies from region to region but the local Co-Op here is probably the most expensive food store for miles. I feel very sorry for people without cars, who are more or less forced to use it.

RHYSDAD

A._Badger wrote: »

I'm somewhat mind-bogged to see someone mention the Co-Op. Maybe it varies from region to region but the local Co-Op here is probably the most expensive food store for miles. I feel very sorry for people without cars, who are more or less forced to use it.

What annoys me about the Co-op is their alleged 'good with food' and ethical fair trade stance whilst simultaneously mercilessly ripping of the local pensioners who, like you say, are very often lacking the luxury of choice. I try to use ours as little as is humanly possible.

VfM4meplse

GentleGiant wrote: »

Farmers markets are the worse for over charging.

True - over-rated and expensive. But ordinary fruit and veg stalls can be v good value.

geordie_joe

A._Badger wrote: »

I'm somewhat mind-bogged to see someone mention the Co-Op.

Why?

A._Badger wrote: »

Maybe it varies from region to region but the local Co-Op here is probably the most expensive food store for miles.

I agree wityh you there.

A._Badger wrote: »

I feel very sorry for people without cars, who are more or less forced to use it.

So, you feel sorry for those who are more or less forced to use the co-op, but are "mind-bogged to see someone mention the Co-Op"!

What do you want them to do, skulk into the background and never mention the fact that they are more or less forced to use the Co-op and not try to get the best out of it?

COOLTRIKERCHICK

The co-op do have some good bargins,

Look at it another way, are the prices in the co-op and farmers markets etc the true price of food, as maybe the big 4 have squeezed the producers/suppliers sooooooooooooo much they just about exist or need i say it use so low grade crap ingredients/pesdicide sprays etc to make sure they can keep their prices down.

As now it is not the producer that dictates the prices, its the supermarkets..

I personally think, if we can share our money around between independants and smaller high street supermarkets etc that would be great.....

A._Badger

geordie_joe wrote: »

Why?



I agree wityh you there.



So, you feel sorry for those who are more or less forced to use the co-op, but are "mind-bogged to see someone mention the Co-Op"!

What do you want them to do, skulk into the background and never mention the fact that they are more or less forced to use the Co-op and not try to get the best out of it?

Don't be tiresome. I was responding to a poster who had been praising the Co-Op, as a contribution to a thread about avoiding the 'big four' in favour of better alternatives.

It's hard to imagine what the Co-Op might be a better alternative to. GUM circa 1964, perhaps?

A._Badger

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

The co-op do have some good bargins,

Look at it another way, are the prices in the co-op and farmers markets etc the true price of food, as maybe the big 4 have squeezed the producers/suppliers sooooooooooooo much they just about exist or need i say it use so low grade crap ingredients/pesdicide sprays etc to make sure they can keep their prices down..

I don't suppose you have any evidence for that, do you?

Having looked into it some years ago (in a professional capacity, although that's neither here nor there) I found not a scrap of evidence that the supermarkets were forcing any farmer to use anything harmful. In fact, I conclude it was a myth being promoted by some suspect 'Green' organisations, who had a very distinct agenda they were trying to promote.

In fact, it seems to me that standards - at least in terms of herbicide and pesticide use - have been driven up by supermarkets, who at least have the resources to check the quality of the produce they sell - something no greengrocer or stallholder has. They also have reputations to lose.

I'm not a fan of big supermarkets and try to limit my use of them. But I'm also not a fan of myths being created and entering the realm of 'common knowledge' for all sorts of devious reasons.

Supermarkets can and do gouge their suppliers on price - but a force for chemical farming (always assuming you believe that to be a problem)? I can see no reason to believe it..