I’ve launched my own little investigation into NJ produce today to try to determine why, at the height of strawberry season, I was unable to buy anything but California strawberries at all of the major local grocery stores (Shop Rite, Foodtown, etc.). I can not comprehend how I could have literally driven past a field of strawberries one mile from the Middletown Shop Rite and yet that Shop Rite chose to get its berries from three thousand miles away. Unbelievable, right? So, but anyway, before unleashing the fury of a CitizenSpeak campaign on the NJDA, (update: see comments below. It’s the grocery store produce buyers who are better targets of an email campaign) I sent an email this AM looking for an explanation:
Hello.
I’m wondering if there is some explanation for why, at the height of strawberry season, I was only able to purchase california strawberries at all the major grocery stores I shop at (Foodtown, Shop Rite, etc.)? With summer upon us now, will I need to shop exclusively at road stands and farmer’s markets to buy NJ produce or will there be some concerted effort to have the Garden State represented in the produce departments of our grocery stores?
Thanks so much for your time!
I feel a bit curmudgeon-like writing emails like that but I mean I really, really like food. So if I don’t care about where my berries come from, who will? Anyway, I’ll post any responses here.
