Supermarket Fresh fruit and vegetables going off quicker?

I do not think Brexit is a cause, we have just returned home after a week in France and we were having exactly the same problem there, oranges rotting, browning of grapes and a bag of leaves opened 3 days after purchase (and kept in a fridge) were slimy and inedible.

I wonder whether it is to do, tree fruit apart, to do with the way so many fruit and veg are force grown under glass. It is not the growing under glass is the problem but, as with animals, methods of growing aimed at speeding up the time a crop goes from seed to marketable product.

What's the purpose of those thin absorbant pads you often get in posh fruit packaging, like underneath each peach or nectarine? Could they somehow be put in all plastic packaging?

It’s probably issues all along the supply chain. Food not picked at the optimum time due to a shortage of workers; problems in the haulage industry; import delivery hold ups caused by Brexit; and staff shortages in stores meaning that short-life food does not get out on the shelves as quickly as possible.

If, in trying to economise, people are not buying as much as they used to but stores are still buying in the same quantity, food will remain on the shelves for longer. Plastic packaging doesn’t help as a it creates a micro-environment for bacteria to flourish.

Ironic that with food prices rocketing, quality at the point-of-sale is plummeting.

Whitewavemark2

Both Tesco and Sainsbury CEO have blamed Brexit as the cause of all the issues.

Well, that's odd because my potatoes came from Pembrokeshire!

I’ve noticed that although I take them out of their plastic as soon as they are delivered they are very wet. I assume this is the way they are kept chilled. I always put them in the bottom of the fridge and the glass shelf just above quickly collects moisture which then drops down into the vegetable containers. I attempt to dry everything off but still the moisture continues. I have reduced the amount of “fresh” veg I buy and old potatoes and sweet potatoes are kept in a wicker hamper in a cool room. However, I find new potatoes in their plastic bags even though taken out have to go in the fridge.i

My fingers seem to be adding and taking off letters. Sorry for typos.

I try to buy fruit and veg that is not pre-packed. Most of mine comes with my weekly on line Sainsbury's order. Two weeks ago the loose carrots were replaced with pre-packed. On second day (two days before the use by date) the were going soft and starting to rot. I complained and got a refund.

All other veg and fruit has been OK, especially the different cabbages.

In also top up during the week with a Morrisons quick shop. Again, all loose fruit and veg. In like their wonky selections. It's all been brilliant and lasted ages.

Broccoli never lasts very long. I grow it and it has to be eaten within 48 hrs of picking. I use that on the day I buy it.

Both Tesco and Sainsbury CEO have blamed Brexit as the cause of all the issues.

Blueberries are the worst ones for me, they go mouldy so quickly, especially from the local coop. Tesco's last longer.
And strawberries need to be eaten fast too, I find.

We noticed months ago that all fresh produce is going off within days.
I now buy frozen veg,except for broccoli.
And fruit we buy as and when we fancy some.

I have an Ocado order coming tomorrow, and will note how long the fruit and vegetables last.

Quite a long time ago, one of my son’s friends had a holiday job in Tesco. One of his jobs was packing apples into bags for sale. He was told to put one bad (or less good) apple into each bag.

It's not the fault of the farmers - they will ensure their produce leaves the farm in just the right condition to reach the customer in peak condition.

Thanks for the link, Dickens. Interesting article.

The few Waitrose vegetables which are unpackaged to me are suspiciously cold as though their last resting place was a freezer.

I live on my own, I do not want to buy eg a pack of 6-8 tomatoes but it is almost impossible to find those which are loose and look edible.

After two days in my fridge and mushrooms turn slimy.

I've been known to water the plants from my own water bottle and move the cut flowers from dry buckets into ones with water in.

I agree about Homebase. They were a good source of half dead plants at bargain prices which just needed a little TLC. The plant stands in my local Morrisons yesterday were dreadful. Someone went to the trouble of growing those plants and they just let them die. Houseplants outside in a cold, cutting wind and bedding plants dead from thirst. The wastage makes me mad.

Homebase used to be worst for this, but ours closed some time ago
I used to rescue plants from Homebase, all they needed was some TLC.
Ours closed down too, unfortunately.

I have a weekly delivery from Tesco and haven’t experienced any of these problems. All fruit and veg are fresh and keep very well.

We have noticed this too. Tomatoes do not keep very long at all before developing white mould or going extremely squishy. Also, my OH bought a net of large oranges recently, when I took them out of the packaging one was rotten.
Potatoes are another commodity that doesn't seem to keep as well as it used to.

glammanana

Lido

Yes I have noticed this too.

Also noticed that the plants and flowers in my local Morrisons are in much worse condition on the shelves.

Lido In my Morrisons it would be a good idea if the staff watered the plants so many left to dry out and wither.

I have been known to buy sadly withering plants because I felt sorry for them! If they looked ‘saveable’, that is.
Homebase used to be worst for this, but ours closed some time ago.,

I was buying a leek last week in Morrisons. There were about 6 loose ones to choose from and all were tinged brown and turning soft. They were more brown than green. The nice fresh looking ones were in packs of 3.

I asked a member of staff if there were any fresh loose leeks. His reply was they only took delivery of one loose crate a day and I was looking at them. I found it hard to believe they were delivered in that deteriorated state and they put them on display. They were only fit for the compost heap.

Lido

Yes I have noticed this too.

Also noticed that the plants and flowers in my local Morrisons are in much worse condition on the shelves.

Lido In my Morrisons it would be a good idea if the staff watered the plants so many left to dry out and wither.

I honestly can’t say I’ve noticed any of this. I usually buy fruit and veg in Asda - any plastic packaging is removed or torn well open. In particular carrots are decanted into one of the net bags my knitting yarn comes in!

I line my salad/veg drawer with an old tea towel. (And don’t change it as often as I should.)

I did chuck out two clementines that were going squishy yesterday, but we’d had them for several days. I think they were from M&S, which dh likes when he does the odd food shop.

A major part of the problem is supply chain issues made worse by Brexit.

If Johnson insists on a trade war it will get worse

Quite a balanced view from The Guardian.

The rot started long before Brexit and the Pandemic.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/29/food-beer-toys-medical-kit-why-is-britain-running-out-of-everything

Now on a fixed income, I keep a very sharp eye on shelf prices which steers where I buy weekly branded staples. I also keep an eye on the till display as things are scanned through - yes, I miss being at work & having my brain in gear - so I notice inconsistencies from the shelf price.

Recently I’ve taken items up to the customer service desk to address an overcharge. Staff always check & very apologetic for the inconvenience, seems like the disconnect from the shelf price & system price at the tills is not infrequent.