[real_sunfire]

Currently in the the "Rip off NZ" thread there has been alot of discussion on supermarkets.

In the UK there is alot of a talk of how un-ethical the "big four" supermarkets are: i.e. forcing local businesses to fold, bullying farmers, and the poor quality of food production including treatment of livestock. We are pretty lucky where we are in Portsmouth as we have a couple of greengrocers, a few butchers, and a small Sommerfields (ok I know there are still evil but still *:) within a 10 mins walk. As a result we haven't had to do a big shop in a supermarket for over 6 months. We are hoping to be able to do the same when we move to Wellington.

Are NZ supermarkets similar in the way they operate to those in the UK or are they more ethical in the way they do business?

Rgds.,
Nick.

[wilson182]

Hi Nick
Where abouts in Portsmouth are you located. We were in Copnor Road.

[real_sunfire]

We are down in Eastney so about 10 min walk from the shops in Albert Road. *:)

Nick.

[G&K]

Try these guys

http://www.commonsenseorganics.co.nz/

Also there are GREAT farmers markets - on a sunday morning in Wellington run by Chinese Market gardeners where we buy ALL of our groceries for the week. Cheaper than you'd believe it was possible for them to make any profit at all...

[GeorgeM]

The Christmas issue of one UK paper I was reading whilst over there (I think it was the Independent) was discussing the negative aspects of the UK supermarket regime where everything is available all the time regardless of season.

The article claimed that to transport 200g of Chilean grapes from Chile to the UK via air creates 2.5kg of greenhouse gases.

Whilst I don't know whether you can consider NZ supermarkets to be ethical or not, the absence of airfreighted fruit and veg over here certainly makes them more environmentally friendly than Tesco, Waitrose et al.

(OMG - I've just reworked that equation for my personal trip to the UK and back, and if it is correct I was personally responsible for several tonnes of greenhouse gases being released. Perhaps we should stop discussing travel (at least by air) as a positive thing?)!