To say that the majority of UK fruit and veg is awful in comparison to other countries?

[MissHoneyPenny]

Why is it so expensive and (mostly) of poor quality when compared to places like Spain and France? I understand climate obviously plays into this but even things that can be grown well here like carrots and potatoes seem poor quality unless you pay top price at a farmers market or organic store.

I shop at a range of supermarkets from Aldi to M&S and none seem to be particularly great.

But cauliflower is a north European winter vegetable… you’re just off Africa in the springtime. You need to adjust what you’re looking for

Buy from your local greengrocer or asian/african/eastern European supermarket instead. Far better quality.

visit your local allotments when they have an open day . Lots of great veg. I agree that the best way is to buy what is in season . British strawberries in season are amazing .

And the rotten potatoes from Aldi

British fruit farmers grow mainly for the supermarkets. In the case of soft fruits this means that the varieties that they grow need to be transported and be fit to be eaten several days later rather than on the day they are picked. Supermarkets won't buy the old and fabulous strawberry varieties such as Cambridge Favourite as they don't last well but need to be eaten within 48 hours of being picked.
British horticulture has changed phenomenally over the past fifty years, it's unrecognisable and skills have been lost. My brother used to manage a mixed horticulture farm. He drives an HGV now, better paid and less stress.

😄😄lol

Soupyspoon, I grow my own cucumbers just as you describe, because DH doesn't like them. We bought strawberries grown in Hereford this week, they're nice, Kent ones just coming in. I do grow a lot of fruit and veg. Am picking asparagus now daily. I grew melons successfully last year for the first time.
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M&S fruit and veg is lovely I think and tends to keeps a long time in the fridge.

Sainsbury's is basically the same price but the quality has noticeably declined in the last few years and it goes off quickly.

I agree that most fruit and veg in the supermarkets is low quality and tasteless. I switched to Riverford during the pandemic and I am so impressed with their boxes. Much better quality and taste.

Brexit may have a bit to do with it but I remember UK fruit and veg being flavour-less as long as I remember. I also don’t agree with the posters upthread saying you pay more in other European countries. Where I’m from it’s very very cheap (although grown in that country and not imported). Even things like apples that can be native in both the UK and where I’m from, also picked and cold stored over winter tastes completely different. Must be climate / soil / type dependent.

Only buy veg and fruit in season in the UK, reduces your choices a lot though. Use markets instead of supermarkets for veg, you can see what you are getting. And best of all grow your own.

You are spot-on, OP. The fruit in particular is utterly tasteless.

Chatting about this yesterday, fruit n veg in France is cheaper or similarly priced and far more plentiful.

We went to Tesco & Morrisons, both had a lot of empty shelves across the store, not just veg, we couldn't even get any own brand tinned fish, pasta sold out and only organic chicken.

I believe we have very long delays getting stuff into the UK since Brexit, which explains some stuff but not the shite veg we grow here... but maybe its all down to our "world beating" farmers? lol!

Ditto in the Canary Islands.

the apples are HUGE (in Lidl) compared to the tiny pathetic things we get here, which when you take the core out are virtually nothing, and the peppers! Again absolutely huge.

Turkey produces the most divine tomatoes and figs. They are to die for.

Agreed. So much bland, awful produce. It seems like you have to pay through the nose for anything decent.

I don’t agree fruit and veg is expensive in the UK, but it is much lower quality than in the US, where I currently live. I especially notice it with avocados and berries which are simply incomparable here.

We're in the hunger gap right now, so most fruit and veg will have been stored before we get it.

ALthough strawberries are super early this year.

You are going to the wrong place!
I spend a lot of time in Spain and the fruit and vegetables are just head and shoulders above anything I can buy in the UK.
If I get the chance I go to the local markets and buy from there, if not it's a little shop around the corner from me and honestly the peppers, potatoes, onions and oranges are just wonderful. And when it is strawberry season a huge wooden crate costs less than €3 and they taste like strawberries used to. As for asparagus I pay €1.20 for a massive bunch of thin stemmed asparagus, not the 5 woody stalks you get here for £3.50!
Lemons are straight from A neighbours tree and taste like lemons used to.

UK supermarket fruit and veg are poor

British veg is great - we have perfect growing conditions here.

The problem is that what you are buying from the supermarket mis not fresh, and most probably imported!

Find someone doing veg boxes of home grown produce and you will get the flavour you are seeking.

I disagree on the British fruit and veg being inferior. I genuinely think we have the best tasting: apples, strawberries, rhubarb, potatoes, carrots, raspberries, blackberries and blackcurrants

@Allaboardtheraveytrain I agree with you and am amazed by the comments on this thread. And British cherries, plums and pears are also superb.

I also think that British dairy products are fantastic as is the meat.

Of course you can get get great produce in the UK... IF you've the money and its in-season AND we haven't had torrential rain or frosts.

We are talking about Supermarket stuff and compared to what i see in France, UK sold fruit/veg is dire, if its even stocked...

I have a twice weekly market and get all my fruit and veg from there. The contrast with supermarket fruit and veg is very noticeable.

I once wrote to M&S to complain that they had runner beans from Zimbabwe and why the hell were those there when UK is awash with runner beans in late Summer
I got a mealy mouthed response back. I asked....Why don't we support our farmers?!