Remember the good old days when Mum or Dad would pull into the local fruit shop barn on the way home from school?
The scent of sweet fresh apples would assail the senses, as you roamed amongst stands of succulent strawberries and tables piled high with tropical pawpaws and bananas.
Chances are the fruit shop owner knew the name of every customer and he might have even thrown in a free icy pole if you were behaving.
Quality versus convenience
Compared to today’s mad dash through the supermarket to grab everything from carrots to dog food, before navigating the self-checkout, it almost seems a nostalgic scene.
But it needn’t be that way.
As the world moves faster, there’s a growing movement towards taking things slow. An increasing consumer awareness about where produce is grown and how our food is being prepared, is bringing many consumers back to basics.
It’s well documented that the so-called ‘fresh’ food sold in large supermarkets is not always so fresh, with some fruits and vegetables stored for extended periods.
The chemical used to extend the life of some produce alters the natural ripening process and that in turn affects the flavours of everything from avocados to melons.
Even more alarmingly, fruit and vegetables lose some important vitamins during extended storage.
For example, apples kept in cold storage for three months contain lower levels of antioxidants, nature’s miracle molecules attributed to helping prevent cell damage.
With research showing more than 70% of Australians do their main fruit and vegetable shop at a supermarket, it seems many of us are paying a high price for convenience.
A better choice for quality, freshness and service
As the saying goes: the more things change, the more they stay the same, and just as it was decades ago, if you want the most nutritious farm fresh produce, it makes sense to shop at one of Australia’s 500 independent retailers.
By making a beeline for your local independent retailer, you are guaranteed a better choice of available products, a better choice for freshness, and the knowledge and service that comes from local business owners who are part of the supply chain from growers, to wholesalers, to retailers.
Shopping at your local fruit shop means supporting your local community.
Who knows, you may even find your visit to the fruit shop a bit like stepping back in time… a chance to break away from the hustle and bustle and stop and smell the apples so to speak, gratified in the knowledge that you are making a better choice for you and your family.