Doc Holliday Posted March 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Au contraire! My first choice is for local producers first and always will be but not when it would mean paying over the odds for something when the quality isn't there. Mrs H & I grow a lot of our own veg and we have pots of chutnies in the garage to see us through to harvest time again. Mrs H does a weekly shop at sainsbugs but if we could find a local supplier where it wouldn't be too much different in cost then we'd cetainly support them. We've changed supplier of meat a couple of times and are, at present, between butchers. Mainly because we've had great difficulty in consistency of quality. When we're spending approx £500 on a meat order every 4 months or so we don't expect all the tat they can't sell through the shop. For instance, diced lamb & pork that's more like lamb & pork trimmings. The quality of fat around the beef joints for another. Sounds picky but I know the difference between a decent lump of beef and something which just doesn't cut it. Pork joints which, no matter how hard you try, it just don't crackle. We voiced our dissatisfaction to the butcher who said it wouldn't happen again, and what do you know... The point I was initially making was people like myself don't mind paying a bit more for the genuine item but please expect us to tolerate being blagged to when I'm being told something is worth the money when it isn't or paying over the odds for something that talks the talk but can't walk the walk. I think the french have a very different approach to their markets than us British and if I'm brutally honest I'm very envious of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berties Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Reading every ones comments the markets should be farmers and growers supplying the best produce at a fare price, some things will be cheaper than the super markets and some more expensive but the quality should shine through ,pork should crackle mlk should b creamy meat should be firm not wet ,but remember a free range chicken will cook and taste better than a frozen chillian bird from tescos at £ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Reading every ones comments the markets should be farmers and growers supplying the best produce at a fare price, some things will be cheaper than the super markets and some more expensive but the quality should shine through ,pork should crackle mlk should b creamy meat should be firm not wet ,but remember a free range chicken will cook and taste better than a frozen chillian bird from tescos at £ 2 yes i agree to a point but ive been to a few where the prices are just taking the punters eyes out therefore discouraging them from going again... lets take Asda's extra special meat range....its very tasty.....and you pay a premium for it, however....ive not seen any farmers markets meats any cheaper, most are a LOT more expensive..... shaun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinbum71 Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 I mong fish and sell them at farmers markets as well as door to door. I agree some seem to do it as a hobby and charge too much, but my fish is considerably cheaper than supermarkets and fresh every day! (There, got the plug in) I suppose its the same as most things, it pays to shop around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted March 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 I can't help but wonder how much of the "extra" is down to being a small producer? We all know that the supermarkets can supply at considerably less than any independent grower of meat or veg because of their buying power but then at what point for an independent does it go from making a profit to just profiteering? Or maybe the reality of it is that if it were not for the supermarkets offering us meat and veg at affordable prices then perhaps food in general would be a lot more expensive. How many of us would struggle to put food on the table? Or maybe it's just because of how the system works that keeps putting up the prices, everyone wanting to make a bit more on it next time round. Maybe the "farmers" markets do reflect the reality of food production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Just thought i,d mention,handlebar,-Lidl jam is 50% fruit (strawberry) and sells for under a pound-i seem to remember that Aldi jam has an even higher fruit content? Both are superb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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