Putting the Boot In?
So, there I was at a car-boot sale (somewhere in the Midlands), I was just there to have a look around and see if I could pick up the odd bargain, as one does. As ever there were a wide range of market traders stalls along side the car-booters. One of them was selling fruit and vegetables with a banner saying ‘All from local farmers’, so I wandered across to have a look at what was on offer.
Their range was quite interesting, because on the stall were oranges and bananas, that set me wondering, where those fruits were grown in the Midlands, true we had been having a hot summer, but even so.
I looked at the ‘organic’ tomatoes that were on offer, they were in Spanish labelled trays, so I asked the trader where they had come from, the only reply I got was "From a local supplier".
When I started to ask more, I was given the ‘brush-off’, as the trader was doing good business. Being a nosey person, I walked behind the stall and took a peek inside the mans truck, there inside were more trays of tomatoes, all with their covers intact and all from Spain and not labelled organic.
There were other fruits and vegetables, that to my eye looked as if they might have come from a ‘local’ wholesaler.
I have nothing against Spanish tomatoes, when they are sold as that and priced accordingly.
When I went back to the stall, again I asked about the tomatoes, I told the trader what I had seen and my suspicions, he soon became angry and very abusive.
Just at that moment the owner of the site appeared, he had heard the mans ranting and come over to see what was happening.
Naturally the trader continued ranting, whilst I explained to the site owner and the by now gathering crowd, what my suspicions were.
This prompted several people to start asking the same questions as I did and asking for refunds.
The site owner said he would ‘look into the matter’, I considered I had done all that I could and continued my rambles around the site.
Though I did notice that within a few minutes, that the trader was beginning to pack up his stall, well before closing time.
Having visited many farmers’ markets and talked to the traders, I have found that they are only too happy to tell you exactly where their produce has come from, even if they haven’t grown it themselves.
The moral - if you are at all suspicious of what the label says, ask and keep asking until you are satisfied you are getting the truth.
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