discovering a simpiler life

discovering a simpiler life

Friday 2 August 2013

A word on Australian made and our shopping

I'm pulling my head out of the clouds. Waking up, and I don't like what I see. This week I read and signed about a petition to help keep Australian grown, tinned fruit and tomatoes on our supermarket shelves, which you can sign here.  I read about the plight of SPC Ardmona here and it really got me thinking about what I put in my shopping trolley.  (As a note, SPC Ardmona is owned by Coca Cola but the product is processed in Australia, by Australian farmers and factory workers).  Farmers in Victoria's Goulburn Valley are pulling out and burning their fruit trees as SPC Ardmona's quota was lowered by 10%. We have to help this situation, don't we?

So on Wednesday off I trotted to the supermarket and I had all this in my mind. I was going to consciously shop, read labels to see if what I was buying was either Australian made or owned.  I started at Aldi, which I was pleased stocks so much Australian produce.  I wasn't aware, but Aldi have a commitment to using Australian producers where ever they can. Big tick.  Go Aldi! Now comes the big boy....Woolies. What a disgrace.  I've noticed in the past 6 months or so all their 'deals' buy 2 for this low price and the nudging in of their 'Select' brands, but when shopping consciously it is amazing what you find.  My hubbie has been eating the same hot pickled chillis for years and years. They were Hoyts brand, Australian made and have been taken off the shelf and been replaced with the 'Always fresh' brand made in Turkey and are no where near as good. Hmmmmm interesting. Then my surprise at the tinned fruit aisle.  I took this picture to show my point, I was amazed it was so blatant. This shelf was at the end of the tinned fruit aisle. Any wonder SPC Ardmona are struggling. Even on special there product is more expensive than the Select brand.  They are also Australian made but you get the drift.



I'm not here to claim I know everything, what I'm wanting to do is ask you to try and shop with all this in mind, look at what you are buying not just the price but where it was made and packaged.  The big supermarkets are hurting farmers and communities all over Australia trying to lower prices.  Do we want to be drinking milk or butter made in China? Do we want to be eating food that has more stamps on its passport than ours? Is a few cents really going to break the family budget by buying Australian made? Vote with your shopping trolley and let the big companies know we care about Australia.  I'm also heading to the local farmers market this weekend to see what I can find grown locally.

Just think about it next time you are shopping......do it for the our future generations.

Ciao, Jan

8 comments :

  1. great work Jan. We need to all keep going on this and not forget about it next week. I went to my local IGA during the week and stocked up on SPC and Ardmona peaches and apricots. I'm looking forward to serving them up to the family.

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    1. Thanks Rhonda and thank you for making me wake up. I forgot to say I stocked up too on peaches and pears :)

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  2. Great post Jan. Something we all need to keep in mind. I will buy SPC next time, and not just go fot the bargains. Thanks for the reminder :)

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    1. Good on you Jules, every person can make a big impact. Thanks for your on going support, I love getting comments :) xxx

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  3. I live in the US, so your post doesn't pertain to me as such, but - I recently noticed that our supermarket was selling garlic from CHINA! I couldn't believe my eyes! Utterly ridiculous.

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  4. Hi Lisa, that happens here all the time too, from China, Spain and also from the US. The Australian Garlic is only available for a few months of the year unfortunately. We are growing our own and hopefully will yield enough for half the year!!

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  5. Hi there thanks for leaving a comment on my blog and more than happy for you to have a link on your home page to my blog...the more the merrier I say.

    I get annoyed with Woollies (my main supermarket) as well because whilst I don't have a problem buying generic brands (remember the old black and white and yellow and black) a few years back well I don't have a problem buying home brands but I like you do have a problem with mainstream food supplies being taken off the shelves and replaced with all SELECT products. I have no idea of percentages however there is so much SELECT stuff verses the regular brands of food. I've noticed it more in the last 2 years and it's annoying because pretty soon Woollies will be stocking all Woollies products and where does that leave everyone else. I don't mind healthy competition but when you have no choice but SELECT brands I wonder where it will all end up. Perhaps Coles and Woollies can stock their home brand and a third retail chain can start up with all the other companies...it's just crazy. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

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    1. well said Kathy! So blantant and as consumers we need to vote with our shopping trolleys!! Remember people didn't really like buying home brand due to the packaging, well they have just wrapped it up in a new dress!! Nice to hear from you again, Jan

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