These days, as everything gets more expensive and we have less money to play with, it is growing more and more difficult to buy Australian made products and support local industry. This problem is compounded by the dominance of the cheaper goods available at chain stores like Coles and Woolworths. These two megacorporations, while they are for the most part Australian owned, make no less than 100 billion dollars in revenue between them each year, and through this money they are able to expand and expand, effectively crushing small businesses and potential competitors out of the market. Within the stores themselves, they offer store-brand goods for as cheap as possible, therefore outselling the local-owned goods on display. It is impossible for Aussie producers to compete in terms of price.
In terms of quality, it is a different story. Many of the el-cheapo Coles and Woolworths brand goods are of low quality, produced overseas and often loaded with preservatives. Their fruit, veges and meat are usually of average or even quite poor quality, especially when compared to virtually any grocer or butcher. This is due to quite a few factors, but possibly most notably the fact that all this meat, fruit and vegetables are kept in cold storage for extended periods, sometimes for periods of over one year. So much for the "Fresh Food People". If freshness and quality is of any importance to you, go visit your local greengrocer or butcher. Chances are whatever you wish to buy will be no more expensive and of far better quality.Perhaps most importantly you will be supporting local industry and business. You will be doing your bit to ensure that these small, local run companies continue to survive in the face of Woolworths and Coles market dominance.
(Update) - I've just been made aware of http://www.aussiefarmers.com.au/ . These guys do it better, fresher and 100% Australian, and deliver food TO YOUR DOOR at no extra cost! Fruit & Veg, Meat, Bread, Milk, the works! Cheer to My old bud Myran for the link http://www.aussiefarmers.com.au/
Please buy Australian made and please support small business. I know that in these difficult economic times it is much easier to buy cheaper imported goods, but it is important to keep our economy as strong as possible by not throwing all of our money into the coffers of massive corporations, instead try to give our farmers, manufacturers and producers support by buying Australian made and owned. It's important. The same goes for everything, whether it be tools (Bunnings is owned by Coles Group also) or furniture or fishing gear, think about what you are buying.
For more information about just how extensive and damaging these companies are, spare a couple of minutes to watch this video, from ABC's Hungry Beast program from last year. Click the link. Do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnQMOyGeP_I
further reading, courtesy of the Australian Financial Review site... BOOM!
http://afr.com/tags;jsessionid=1FADA78E0039D0DBC1BA9D75BA1D6453?tag=C_COLES%20GROUP%20LIMITED-CGJ
http://afr.com/tags?tag=C_WOOLWORTHS%20LIMITED-WOW
Personally i think when it comes to fresh produce you have to eat organic.
ReplyDeleteI try to buy and eat food that is organic as much as i can. And although its a little expensive, the fruit and veg is grown in Australia, chemical free and tastes a WHOLE LOT BETTER.
Shop brought fruit and veg only has 40% of nutrients because of the growing conditions such as soil and like you previously stated, the produce most of the time comes from overseas and is keep in cold rooms for months. In the end you are right, inferior foods are not worth the money. However i think its best to pay a bit more and get home grown organic foods :)
Here here Sunita, cheers for the feedback!
ReplyDelete