Should I Be Worried?

Should I Be Worried?

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This is what someone said to me recently during a conversation about claiming 'yet another' offer of free food from a food delivery Recipe Box scheme.

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Here I share the 'nuts and bolts' or is that 'meat and veg' of our conversation.

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The person that I was talking to said to me that they had ordered a box of one of those meal in a box delivery option.

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I believe there are several, Hello Fresh and Gousto being two that have taken the meal in a box market by storm.

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The boxes come with ingredients measured out for the recipient to put together and prepare - recipe cards are provided and come complete with condiments.

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Marketed as time saving and offering 'fresh produce' I had heard a radio interview that very week within which the interviewer took the CEO of one of these companies to task about the level of complaints about the quality of the produce - or should I say, lack of it.

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He replied that they do their best, and at such a growth rate in popularity 'and still growing in popularity', it was hard to keep on top of such things.

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Personally, I cannot fathom why people would not want to go to the butcher, baker, and greengrocer and select seasonal, local fresh and tasty produce themselves.

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I also detest the volume of packaging that these 'fad ideas' create, and more importantly, the damage ordering online is doing to our farmers/food producers, independent businesses and the environment.

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We are starting to look like a one trick pony - fast becoming disconnected with any kind of reality.

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Think factory farms, warehouses filled with robot packers and on-line billionaires who do not care a jot about anything other than making more money.

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Back to our conversation.

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I commented that he had mentioned that he had stopped ordering these boxes because he ended up with lots of condiments that he didn't want and found things in the box, when he opened them days after arrival, that had gone off/over and were no longer edible.

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This equates to food waste - which - to coin a term is another of my pet hates.

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He told me that he reordered because they were offering another free offer for new customers.

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I remarked that he is not a new customer and asked him if he considered it right to get 'another' free box.

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Had he wondered who was paying for this 'free food' because in truth, nothing is free.

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These businesses set up, push the hard-working producers to the limits to provide produce for next to nothing, which has knock on affects.

The supermarkets have pushed producers to the limits for years - they now have further competition that is biting at their heels.

This competition is being conveyed as good for the customers who get 'cheap' and even 'free' food.

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I am here to convey, as I did to my friend, that the cracks have been showing and widening for years.

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Farmers/producers have so many matters/issues to deal with - these are also our matters and issues.

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Animal welfare, rising cost of land, feed and labour-that is if you can get the labour because many have come out of farming in order to pursue other interests with fewer working hours and better returns.

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The competition and price wars between supermarkets has seen a reduction in return to the farmers/producers.

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Weather conditions, disease and wars around the world have contributed to a reduction in the supply of many products and key ingredients.

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If we demand cheaper without care or informed understanding about how anything is produced and are happy to see our producers flounder, shops close and add to the waste and expect yet another free box of food to boot-we are guilty as charged for being a part of the looming problem that is at our door.

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If you do any of this and would say the same as my friend:

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Should I Be Worried?

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The Answer Is Yes!

Article – ? Susanne Austin, 16th January 2025 - (Note: all text written by Susanne personally unless lines or sections are stated as quoted text).

Susanne Rachel Austin writes on Personal and Environmental Wellbeing… 'Healthy People – ‘Healthy Environment’ - covering natural health and wellbeing, eco-build, sustainable, green and 'one planet' living as a business and daily lifestyle choice for all. Susanne is also the author of a daily ‘True Life Wisdom Of The Day’ shared upon several social media channels and is currently in the process of writing a book and putting together a series of workshops. Speaking engagements are also woven into these plans. Susanne’s new website is germinating 'Quite Naturally' in-line with this creative process and will be launched as and when complete.

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