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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:

Doubletrouble99 · 08/04/2018 21:38

I think one of these celebrity chef's should start a campaign. You know like the one that got us the sugar tax and the one were we stopped throwing back fish! They should campaign for the use of seasonal fruit and veg. Think of the air miles we would reduce. Save the planet, save the British farmer I say!!

CoffeeOrSleep · 08/04/2018 21:39

As far as I can find, the only fruit in season in the UK in April is rhubarb - everything else is going to be imported, or grown in artificial conditions. (And I know rhubard isn't really a fruit, but we treat it as such)

We are used to having access to a range of fruit and veg outside of harvest time. Eating seasonally is eating a very limited range of fruit and veg for the bulk of the year.

We notice the difference for foods like strawberries because we are more likely to grow them ourselves, and the tastier varieties don't travel well, so the flown in ones tend to be incredibly expensive (to allow for the wastage in transit) or bland tasting.

Stopandlook · 08/04/2018 21:40

Only fruit kids will eat....

anneoneill · 08/04/2018 21:42

When someone dedicates a whole post to "rolls eyes", after criticising someone else's input, I do wonder if they're having a laugh or really are as thick as pig shit?

himalayansalt · 08/04/2018 21:42

What an annoying thread!

Most people know that strawberries are only in season in the UK for about 8 weeks of the year.

Do you also boycott all tropical fruit and anything imported from outside of, say, Europe?

SoftSheen · 08/04/2018 21:43

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

You are right, however in winter in the UK this would basically limit us to potatoes, carrots/other root veg, onions, cabbages/kale and (stored) apples. Quite possible to stay healthy on such a diet, but pretty boring.

Is buying imported strawberries really any worse than buying imported green beans, tomatoes, bananas or oranges?

ifIwasinvisiblewaitIalreadyam · 08/04/2018 21:43

I always love the Moroccan ones. I think they're sweeter sometimes. The Spanish ones tend to be waterier. X

VladmirsPoutine · 08/04/2018 21:45

A nice thread for Little Englanders to get all frothy.

anneoneill · 08/04/2018 21:46

Do you also boycott all tropical fruit and anything imported from outside of, say, Europe?

I suspect she has a particular disdain for food from within Europe...

Original poster

Snooks1971 · 08/04/2018 21:48

annieoneill - you've already commented. Thanks.

OP posts:

Doubletrouble99 · 08/04/2018 21:49

You would be surprised at how much longer the season for many of the berry fruits can be in the UK now. The technology involved in fruit cultivation has come on a long way. Salad veg. is also grown in the UK for much longer now.

I am very against things imported that we can grow here like apples from France for instance as well as the above.

Obviously we can't grow citrus fruits and bananas but I really think we should be thinking long and hard when it comes to transporting so much so far.

grasspigeons · 08/04/2018 21:54

Doubletrouble99
thanet earth is really interesting

Jon66 · 08/04/2018 21:54

Well, it's strawberry season here in southern Spain with a kilogram and a half costing just 3 euros and they are fabulous. Been having loads of Spanish strawberry, Spanish banana and Spanish yoghurt smoothies. Yum.

Catspaws · 08/04/2018 21:58

You'd hardly get strawberries from anywhere local at this time of year! YABU for expecting them to come from anywhere closer to home at this time of year.

I think it's great to try and eat seasonally. Not only will you be eating better produce with a better flavour, but it's more environmentally friendly because the food doesn't come with hundreds of air miles. I got a great free chart from somewhere that I keep on my fridge you could print one from online I expect x

Catspaws · 08/04/2018 22:00

(Sorry, misread that you bought them not your OH!)

CadyHeron · 08/04/2018 22:02

Blimey, there's some angry responses to the OP - over fruit.
OP, I'm with you. Fruit and veg is so much yummier when it's in season.
Fruit especially I find more tasteless or not as juicy out of season.

Changebagsandgladrags · 08/04/2018 22:04

On a bit of a deviation. I spent my whole life hating strawberries until I tasted one while on holiday in France. Tasted of pink Opal Fruit.

justforthisthread101 · 08/04/2018 22:05

I’m with you OP. DH and I will have asparagus for practically breakfast lunch and dinner for 8 weeks starting in a few weeks and never eat it at any other time. We’re all about the root vegetables at this time of the year, and I get really funny about fruit during the “hungry gap” as it’s really hard to find anything British.

My argument for all of this is one of taste because you’re right, strawberries at this time of year are an utter waste of time.

GhostsToMonsoon · 08/04/2018 22:05

I never used to buy strawberries out of season, but I confess I've started doing so recently as they're one of the few fruits my children really enjoy. They taste so much better in June/July though, when they are fresh and haven't been air-freighted thousands of miles.

Degu · 08/04/2018 22:05

snooks why not? How selfish of you

Agree though - my dd pestered me for strawberries the other day and they tasted of dirt (I did wash them). I felt guilty and vowed not to be bullied into buying them again until they are in season.

We planted some sunflower seeds today so I am hoping that redeems me a little bit!

himalayansalt · 08/04/2018 22:08

I don't find this an annoying thread because of the message about out of season fruit and vegetables (although most thinking people are fully aware and don't need lecturing on the point).

I find it annoying because of the silly thread title.

schnubbins · 08/04/2018 22:09

I live in Germany and recently wanted to buy fresh ginger .I always check the country of origin for fruit and veg but was totally annoyed when i saw the ginger came from China of all places.Another thing that really annoys me is that all the lamb meat comes from bloody New Zealand .Ther are millions of lambs frolicking around Ireland, England and Scotland , all still (not for long) EU countries but they go all the way to New Zealand for Lamb.I never buy it.

CadyHeron · 08/04/2018 22:10

Have to agree with that, ghost. You can't beat fresh, plump strawberries straight from the field in June. Absolutely gorgeous, so juicy.
Other year round ones are practically tasteless, round and hard in comparison!

Makingdinner · 08/04/2018 22:14

I dont mind buying imported fruit and veg but I agree most of the time strawberries taste of nothing.

I love love love going abroad and eating so much fruit and veg because everything just tastes 10 times nicer!

Andrewofgg · 08/04/2018 22:15

If we only ate what was in season in Britain it would be a somewhat restricted diet.

Anyway: why Britain? Why not whichever of the Four Nations you are in? Or your own county?

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