Supermarket veg tastes of nothing – why aren’t more people ordering from local farms?

[Bottlesofrumonthewall]

I have recently been told I am pre-diabetic, so I am kind of forced to change how I eat and cook. Even a few weeks ago I genuinely thought ready meals were great, but now I have realised I need to actually cook properly at home rather than living off beige convenience food.

Chatting to my neighbours, who are also diabetic, made me think even more about my habits.

What has always put me off is that supermarket fruit and veg often tastes of nothing. I ordered a local fruit and veg box a few days ago and was honestly surprised that the veg actually tastes of something.

I did have to wash the veg, which is fine, and I am also going to get milk delivered to my doorstep. I have to admit, though, something felt a bit off about ordering it through a parcel service, you never quite know what might happen. My only worry is someone might nick the milk, but fingers crossed.

I know they are more expensive per item, before anyone jumps on me, but they are also more environmentally friendly. And weirdly, it has worked out cheaper overall for me because I am not filling the trolley with impulse buy rubbish, there is just less for sale.

Just in the last two days I have made a curry and some scones, which is more actual cooking than I have done in ages.

I really do wonder why more people do not do this, do they just not know it is an option? There are lots of farms that will deliver to your doorstep with ice packs so meat and dairy arrive properly refrigerated and everything stays fresh.

I am genuinely curious, is it cost, convenience, or something else that stops more people using veg boxes and milk delivery? Has anyone else found this works for them, or do supermarkets just make life easier?

Not all local farms sell directly to the public. A lot of farms have contracts with big businesses (e.g. Morrisons, Müller, Co-Op, etc.), so that's where the produce goes to. Throw in red tape and the extra work that selling to the public would require, and I see why a lot of people don't do it!

I live in an area that's dominated by farms. It's not suitable for growing all kinds fruit and veg around here, because of a combination of factors (soil type, the land isn't flat, harvesting it would be a nightmare, etc.), but we do well with beef, sheep and dairy cows. Our nearest farm shop is 20 minutes away, costs a fortune (probably not helped by several media appearances) and... well, you can't do a full week's shop there. I don't even know where the nearest farm shop is after that.

I did, however, grow up with milk from a local dairy farm on the step. By the time we had it for breakfast, the magpies had usually pecked through the silver tops!

All our veg was from M&S. It was all absolutely delicious, but my husband is an expert cook.

Agree OP. A local veg box is so much tastier and fresher than supermarket veg. No comparison. It makes cooking and eating healthily a real pleasure.

Same, although the dairy farm up the road does knock up some amazing ice cream for Open Farm days, but joint the health kick me and my cholesterol need.

I get most of my veg from a supermarket, especially at this time of year when the local market doesn't really happen. I'm a decent cook and a long time vegetarian so I'm pretty good at making veg taste good. I don't really eat ready meals or convenience food.

That's the cost of the food to be produced. Supermarkets have been ruining the income of farmers for years. So the consumer has gotten used to a far lower price for something. The cost to the farmer is quite high so you're paying to keep them going. If you buy seasonally it really is "a bit more".

I grow as much as I can in my own garden and greenhouse. I agree that certain crops do taste 100x better when fresh. My freezer is stacked with frozen runner beans, various tomato sauces/semi dried tomatoes, frozen chillis and ginger I've grown and various herbs. I have pickled veg in jars and am still picking pumpkins, tromboncino and digging up potatoes.

Our local, weekly market stall sells fruit/veg but its not local produce. I've looked to try veg boxes, but couldn't find one that delivers here- I'm not even rural. I do buy from a local greengrocer and although their produce is lovely, its very expensive and not much is local.

Because for many people it’s too expensive. Perfectly simple explanation.

I loved my 5p veg from the supermarket this Xmas.

Cost, access, convenience.

Price and I’m not home for delivery

Most local farm shops and veg box places are still buying a significant amount of veg in from far away. It’s not local.

That said, I do grow my own veg, which is nice, but I find supermarket veg tastes fine. I cook from scratch daily though, so it may simply be you need to get back in the habit.

But to answer your question, not enough variety for me to get exactly what I need each week.

Cost - we eat a lot of fruit and veg so needs to be affordable.

And I only have capacity for one food order a week and that comes from Tesco. I can’t be running around all over because I’m too busy.

You do realise local farms sell their veg to supermarkets?.
Lots of farm shops and veg delivery firms are selling imported fruit and veg, the same stuff as your supermarket but more expensive.
My local farm shop is the same. He doesn't grow his own oranges. What he does grow and sell is very seasonal, so cauliflower, cabbage and sprouts. I buy his stuff to support local and reduce food miles but it tastes no different to the same stuff from Tesco.

We used to do this.

1. its not just a bit more expensive. It costs vastly more
2. I don't live in an area where a lot of veg is grown, there's dairy, pigs & fruit but at very very high prices. Like well above a luxury butcher.
3. i really struggle with how limited the choices are at some points in the year cooking for kids. Endless rainbow chard, courgettes, a swede the size of a football every week for a month, repetitive huge bags of kale.

It doesn't sound very convenient or affordable.

I have bought from farm shops in the past and it wasn't any better than M&S, just a lot more expensive, they often sell things like grapes at twice the price also

Time of year means veg is limited at the moment locally. Price and availability. Honestly the price put most people off. People are really struggling to pay for food at the moment.

I’ve never come across a farm shop. Supermarket veg is completely fine. No need for takeaways or ready meals.

Two things for me

1. Cost. We shop at Aldi to stretch the budget.
2. Deliveries. We both work full time outside the home. Delivery stuff is a pain. Couldn't juggle a fresh Delivery.

Cost and convenience. Simple as that.

My mum gets a veg box delivery. She has all the time in the world to meal plan, cook and sometimes experiment. No fussy eaters to cater for either.

I pick up what I need from the supermarket 4/5 days a week when I'm passing on foot.

For me it’s the cost they are very expensive, I stopped buying veg from farm shops Christmas 23 when I was charged £ 9 for 6 parsnips.

I buy all my veg/ fruit from Aldi helps me stay in budget and never had a problem with their taste.

bottom line is cost, everyone moans people on benefits but they dont want to support the local shops that keep people employed and would rather choose the cheapest option and then they wonder why companies go bankroupt

Same here. My greengrocer is a couple of miles away. I live on my own and can buy just the amount I need and avoid waste. I don't buy supermarket fruit and veg any more.