Tuesday 3 April 2012

Food miles

Our new supermarket at Parkview - Fusion by ParknShop  is very posh.

Posh fish waiting to be eaten.



Amazingly, the majority of the  fresh produce is imported.  Not just from Asia but from Australasia, America, Africa and Europe.   This is not just about variety and Expats requirements for the familiar.    I think it mainly reflects about a deep distrust of the safety of food produced in China and particularly mainland China.   So those who have the means will pay 3-4 times the price of local product to ensure safety.

 Zucchini from Holland






For example Rika believes that most vegetables fro the mainland need to be washed thoroughly - in detergent - to remove pestacides and other harmful chemicals.    




















Pre washed salad greens from Australia and America.




Frankly I find this all rather frightening.   I can't but be appalled at the unnecessary waste of flying vegetables halfway around the world.   Not just the gross wast of greenhouse gasses, and secondly the fact that much of this produce spoil before its is sold and be thrown away.  And of course the fact that the locals don't seem to trust their own market gardens.



New potatoes from Australia  These were very nice.















Artichokes from France reduced from HKD 68 each to HKD 8.




















Portabello mushrooms from Christchurch.  Half price but a bit soggy.




















When it comes to Eggs,  I'd say 90+% are foreign,  with the local options seem to be premium organic brands.







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