Buying loose fruit and veg

2childmum2

For the few fruit and veg sold loose in my local supermarket I use the compostible bin liners. I have a roll in my shopping bags, put the loose stuff in there and then use them in the compost caddy when i get home.

But I do object to paying so much more for the loose stuff than the pre-packaged stuff, and I can't get everything I want loose. Different supermarkets seem to have different things loose - i could spend all day travelling from one to the other - and creating car emissions as I go.

I also stand in the shop looking at bananas, wondering whether it is better to buy Fair-trade in plastic, or 'normal' ones loose!

-taff

Prinzessilein - can you put up a notice for a car share, or a taxi share somewhere so a few of you can go, have a root around a big supermarket, coffee out, that kind of thing...Maybe some of the other residents would be interested.

Farway

2childmum2 wrote: »

I also stand in the shop looking at bananas, wondering whether it is better to buy Fair-trade in plastic, or 'normal' ones loose!

If one near you, all W/rose bananas are Fairtrade, the ones heavily marketed as such are in plastic, the loose ones are still F'trade
Price is comparable to all S/m bananas, I guess there is stiff competition on them

Fire_Fox

Prinzessilein wrote: »

As for living near the town centre...iy's not a choice I have...on disability grounds I was moved into a sheltered retirement complex ...a good few years younger than all other residents, but I have a ground-floor flat with level access shower, which is what I need!

I'm really not complaining...I was thrilled to be offered this place...but beings as 90% of the residents here are old and less-than-mobile it would have been nice for the council to put a busstop nearby!

I did not read it as you complaining, but as you being frustrated IYSWIM. I am glad you 'voiced' that because it gave me a slightly different perspective on accessibility around my city.

Prinzessilein wrote: »

Red Cabbage...I wish!!!!...Mum and I snaffle them up whenever they appear in the stores...we love it as a veg, cooked with apple...In earlier days, I used it in a sort of winter-coleslaw....and yes, I would happily ferment it!...but it is less available than the white sort!

What a shame.

It often seems illogical what we can or cannot get hold of locally. Like you, I have an M&S Food Hall close by so some uncommon veggies are available, yet staples can be unavailable or only in an eyewateringly expensive format.

I went to several mini/ express supermarkets looking for celery hearts the other day. No hearts or whole heads but they all have a few sticks for £1! :eek: I guess there is insufficient profit in longer life basics like cabbage and celery that have not been prepped.

Farway wrote: »

Same round here, though I suspect that is more to do with the high bus fares than bus stop locations

Yes there is definitely a trade-off between cost and convenience. Taxi fares in my city have increased so much less than bus fares over the last decade.

The main bus company here is really pushing e-tickets on smartphones, which obviously makes sharing a daily or weekly ticket much less likely. :mad:

lizzybiff

I buy my loose fruit and veg from Asda

HelenPetersBeads

Our local Tesco has some, but not all, fruit and veg sold loose. I can buy my bananas and broccoli either wrapped or unwrapped, so choose unwrapped. Brussels sprouts need to go in a bag whether I pick them myself (if they decide to have loose ones) or if they come already packed, just to stop them running away from each other in the basket/trolley and for ease.
However what bugs me is that large veg e.g. a whole cabbage or cauliflower has to be prepackaged in an open bag. If broccoli can be sold loose then why not cauli or cabbage?

Our local Aldi (with the overflowing car park causing all sorts of road 'issues') sells ONLY prepackaged fruits and veg. Easier to get through the till quickly as there's no weighing needed.

judexx

HelenPetersBeads wrote: »

However what bugs me is that large veg e.g. a whole cabbage or cauliflower has to be prepackaged in an open bag. If broccoli can be sold loose then why not cauli or cabbage?

.

Our local Sainsbury recently started selling cauliflowers loose with no packaging- so things may be changing