Last week there was a report in the Daily Telegraph saying that British high streets have lost nearly 3,000 greengrocers over the last decade.
In April 1997 there were 6,916 registered greengrocers. By April this year, the numbers had fallen to just 3,948 – a fall that equates to five closing every single week for the last 11 years.Ironically the majority of grocery shops charge less for their fresh produce than supermarket chains.
The Daily Telegraph research shows that a basket of six fruit and five vegetables from Tesco and Sainsbury's costs £37.20, compared to just £21.01 on average from four different independent greengrocers around the country. The closure of greengrocers comes on top of a 2,700 butchers and fishmongers shutting up shop since 2001.
I regularly encounter young people who don't have fruit and vegetables as part of their daily life. What's the answer? TV programmes like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's help, but I suspect plenty of people watch cookery programmes and then heat a convenience meal in a microwave. Better education must be the answer, and use it or loose it!
Web: http://www.telegraph.co.uk
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