observer Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 You either love it or hate it. But it seems most of our garlic is imported; yet it can and is grown in the UK, and has been since Roman times. And from taste test done on TV, the public prefer the UK variety, which has more kick than the bland imports that our s/markets wish to foist on us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 We also import strawberries, and grow them here, :!: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Anyone who needs to use garlic in food has a problem with their taste buds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Garlic is good for you Peter...it helps your immune system, it is an antioxidant, helps blood circulation and other stuff too. It also keeps the vampires away. You may need that on Monday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Garlic is great, and if you have ever eaten French or Italian food you have eaten it Peter, it's in alot of dishes you would not expect to find it in ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fugtifino Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Grown it lots of times, it's lovely stuff, even got my mum to enjoy this "forrin muck". A recipe we use frequently allows 4 cloves per person, it's heavenly and no whiffy breath afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 I like garlic but not too much. I used to grow it as well - and strawberries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Garlic is extensively grown and eaten in Egypt. There are rollocking great bunches of it hanging up somewhere in most egyptian houses. I love the smell of it wafting through the house when I or one or other of my daughters-in-law is using it in cooking. Garlic is an easy to grow bulb. Split one up into cloves and plant them in a small patch in your garden and you will be rewarded with a patch of beautiful, fresh looking white flowers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wireboy Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Don't like the taste of garlic but I love the smell. Does that make sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 The prog also dealt with pears; 80% of our pears are imported; but the public taste tests they did, folk prefered the taste of the British produce. The problem seems to be centred on the s/market control of food retail, and seeking the cheapest rather than the best quality produce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 The supermarkets don't "control" food retailling - the customers do. And the fact is that most customers prefer convenience and price over quality and taste. The supermarkets competitors need to look at what they can do to address the convenience and price difference rather than keep bleating about how much "better" their products are - whilst wondering why they have no customers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Point is, there isn't a choice for those wishing to pay more for better tasting British produce, as they don't even put it on the shelves, as in the case of garlic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Forget the supermarkets. Let their fruits rot on the shelves. Get to the market and buy from retailers who can please themselves who they buy from and don't sell uniform size, prepacked produce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 I do use "the market", which I hope uses "local" produce; and look for the Union Flag on packaging on the s/market shelves - Inky's correct in this respect, if the Brits made a point of buying British, it would solve the problem; and improve our balance of trade at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Warrington Market is a case in point when it comes to improving price and convenience. Price could be addressed, at least as a first step, by making the market multi-story free for stays of up to 3 hours. After all, when was the last time you saw a supermarket WITHOUT free parking? Convenience could be addressed quite simply by having trolleys - so you don't have to lug a dozen bags around while shopping - and using a single checkout system across the whole market. Stalls could serve you your produce, barcode label the bags, then when you finish all your shopping and pay for it all in one go the barcode indicates to the computer what portion of your bill goes to each stallholder. Saves having to constantly mess about with cash, or use the insecure wireless chip and PIN machines most stalls use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Iceland next to aldi near levers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 "Price" could be addressed by the Council not milking the stallholders with high rents, but having said that, I don't think the market's paricularly dear anyway; frankly don't know how they do it; and the idea of having the occasional "farmer's market" is a great idea. As for "convenience"; personally I'm quite happy to pay cash at each stall, rather than stand in a queue while someone tries punching in a pin code. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Warrington Market is a case in point when it comes to improving price and convenience. Price could be addressed, at least as a first step, by making the market multi-story free for stays of up to 3 hours. After all, when was the last time you saw a supermarket WITHOUT free parking? Convenience could be addressed quite simply by having trolleys - so you don't have to lug a dozen bags around while shopping - and using a single checkout system across the whole market. Stalls could serve you your produce, barcode label the bags, then when you finish all your shopping and pay for it all in one go the barcode indicates to the computer what portion of your bill goes to each stallholder. Saves having to constantly mess about with cash, or use the insecure wireless chip and PIN machines most stalls use. Isn't all that sort of detracting from what a 'market' is all about though? I agree with you about the parking and maybe it would help if Warrington Market wasn't half empty of stalls etc as it's awful these days and like a no mans land. Sorry to any existing traders who are sticking it out and may be reading by the way Having trolleys, barcoded items and paying in one go at a central checkout point makes it sound just like a odd type of supermarket. It would surely put the costs up to have to have each stallholder capable of barcoding and then to pay additional staff to man the 'global' tills not to mention having a system which can then calculate the 'proportions' so as to distribute the money back to the store holders. How long would they have to wait and how could they put some of the cash sales in their pockets I'd much rather see a bustling market full of lower priced food and goods and pay for them directly although your way may make me buy more and look to be politely shocked at the checkout when I realise how much it had all cost in one go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 The market is run by a Gestapo and the council keep charging extortionate rents, that's why the stalls have gone. Slowly the council are killing the town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 The kind of market I'm envisaging would have the convenience of a supermarket, but with competing stallholders (several butchers, several greengrocers, etc.) which should help to keep prices down and quality up. The cost of running such a system would be no higher than having a till on every stall, and like you say, would probably encourage people to spend more in the market than they'd planned to. Take your point about the cash-in-pocket traders, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 Paying for goods at the stall means you can then look around at the other stalls or walk out of the market, as you like. Paying for all purchases at a centralised pay point would lead to... WAIT FOR IT....! Some oik at the exit asking to search your bags! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 Anyone who wants a gander at my meat and two veg is more than welcome to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 Anyone who wants a gander at my meat and two veg is more than welcome to! Strange bloke. Do you keep them in your shopping bag? :shock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 Anyone who wants a gander at my meat and two veg is more than welcome to! I sense there may be a sudden rush on in the Market if word ever gets out... will they be rushing in or out though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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