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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

DH flew to Morocco today to buy a punnet of strawberries

79 replies

Snooks1971 · 08/04/2018 20:38

He didn't - he instead visited Sainsburys marked down section (God we both love a reduced sticker!) But Morocco - really???
I'm not 100% obsessed with only buying produce within season but the strawberries smell of ... air - no strawberry aroma, just nothing really.
What is the point of flying these foodstuffs in at vast expense? Because people buy them I guess.
Nothing is a seasonal treat anymore and we all expect everything, all year round.

OP posts:

MrsGrindah · 08/04/2018 20:40

What is the point of flying these foodstuffs in at vast expense? Because people buy them I guess

There you go..answered your own question.

krustykittens · 08/04/2018 20:43

But I don't get why when, as you say, they smell of nothing and have very little taste. I don't buy fruit now unless it is in season as it is a waste of time and money, as well as being environmentally damaging.

Original poster

Snooks1971 · 08/04/2018 20:46

Exactly - I agree with you both. DH bought them at 45p reduced from hmm £2.00 and I had the same discussion with him.

OP posts:

DeathStare · 08/04/2018 20:47

But you didn't want a seasonal treat. You wanted strawberries out of season.

And the point of flying in these products is because they can sell them at a profit.... to you!

Curtainshopping · 08/04/2018 20:47

We’re used to having availability of everything all year round.

I’m afraid it means we’ve lost touch - I had no idea when things are ‘in season’. I know strawberries are summer but that’s about it. Because everything’s there all the time and I don’t think about it.

Original poster

Snooks1971 · 08/04/2018 20:48

Not at 45p! And they aren't a treat because they don't smell or taste of strawberries!

OP posts:

MsHomeSlice · 08/04/2018 20:53

keep them out of the fridge overnight, they might be alright in the morning....refrigeration is the worst thing for strawberries.

other than that i wholeheartedly agree.

it was like that M&S prawn fiasco where they were flying prawns out all over the world to be prepped and back again to be sold.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 08/04/2018 20:54

If you cut them in half and macerate them with sugar and a bit of balsamic vinegar, that may help the flavour - it would be a shame not to enjoy them.

I think it has as much to do with the breed of strawberry as with the origin - there are some which smell and taste of nothing, whether they come from half way round the world or just down the road, IMO.

But a disappointing strawberry is a really sad thing.

Original poster

Snooks1971 · 08/04/2018 20:55

DeathStare - I didn't buy them them, DH did. But that's not the point of my AIBU.
My AIBU is that we shouldn't buy produce out of season.
I grew up in Lincolnshire and know in my bones to not even consider buying strawberries in April. DH saw what he thought was a bargain at the time.

OP posts:

Davros · 08/04/2018 20:55

Bit of sugar and lemon juice. Then never buy them out of season again!!

TabbyMack · 08/04/2018 20:57

So, your husband bought strawberries that have been flown in from Morocco and you’re asking why they fly strawberries in from Morocco?

You are aware of how commerce works, right?

NewYearNewMe18 · 08/04/2018 20:58

You're not thinking out side the box. They must be in season in Morocco or else they would be growing them in polytunnels in Norfolk.

MrsGrindah · 08/04/2018 20:59

Wait till we Brexit OP and then we’ll only have seasonal produce!

TabbyMack · 08/04/2018 20:59

My AIBU is that we shouldn't buy produce out of season

Then don’t.

Oh. I see you are speaking for everyone?

You can be the one to go and explain to the Morocco growers why their contract is being cancelled, btw. Hope they won’t have to lay off too many workers.

Original poster

Snooks1971 · 08/04/2018 21:00

STDG & HomeSlice - yes it's crap isn't it? Wouldn't ever put them in the fridge, don't do that with tomatoes either.
STDG - never knew of a disappointing strawberry growing up - it was all PYO (eat on the job!)

OP posts:

DanceDisaster · 08/04/2018 21:00

I hate this too. It’s fucking ridiculous and they taste crap as they’re old and have been in a refrigerated plane for Christ knows how long.

I’ve noticed that all sweet potatoes are from the Americas, so I won’t buy them and stick to commoners’ spuds. And don’t get me started on avocados.

TheHuffAndPuffALot · 08/04/2018 21:04

Punnets of locally grown strawberries were being sold at the market I visited this weekend (SW England). I'm guessing these were grown in polytunnels?

NotTheFordType · 08/04/2018 21:04

I fully agree - with any wrapped fruit in the supermarket I always pick up the punnet and inhale. If I'm not transported to fruity heaven by the smell then it doesn't go in the trolley.

Agree with PP though that a lot of berries smell and taste better when they've been out of the fridge for an hour or so. Tomatoes too.

Lovemusic33 · 08/04/2018 21:04

I buy them and raspberries out of season as they are the only fruit I can get dd to eat. I do agree though about the taste, prefer buying British when in season.

Ravenesque · 08/04/2018 21:06

An old bag - me - says that she liked it in the old days when you ate seasonally, on the whole, all year round and really appreciated things like strawberries when they came into season and you could have them then. I think that with nearly all fruit and veg being available all year round we've lost some of our appreciation for them. Also, a lot of them have lost their strength of flavour. I try to just buy seasonally, but I don't always live up to my own standards.

MirandaWest · 08/04/2018 21:07

I don’t buy strawberries until May at least when they are more local. Don’t find any other ones taste as good.,

viques · 08/04/2018 21:09

I don't mind buying fruit and veg that can't be grown here like bananas, oranges, melons avocados etc ( though I get peed off at the quality of the stuff we are offered, have you SEEN the fennel , lemons, peaches and nectarines they get in Italy) but I won't buy seasonal food that we grow better in the Uk like strawberries, cherries and asparagus I would rather only eat it seasonally and enjoy it than pay for air freighted tasteless stuff all the year round.

and I am annoyed when I see stuff that we do grow here being imported . yes I feel sorry for Moroccan farmers, but I also want to support UK food producers too.

Liara · 08/04/2018 21:10

This is why I never buy fruit and veg at the supermarket, only at the local farmer's market (disclaimer: I'm in southern Europe, so we already have strawberries here).

But it really is ridiculous, isn't it?

Original poster

Snooks1971 · 08/04/2018 21:10

TabbyMack no I'm not planning on changing world commerce personally. This is just a thread. But thanks for being patronising and not actually having a useful opinion.

OP posts:

StylishMummy · 08/04/2018 21:10

I buy all produce all year round, I don't give a shit where it's grown

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