Grocery prices are soaring, but one Brisbane greengrocer is challenging the major supermarkets for their wasteful practices that are driving costs up unnecessarily.
At Skippy’s Fresh Frootz in Victoria Point, they’re offering deals like seedless watermelon for under $1 a kilo and other produce for as little as 20 cents a kilo.
Manager Elijah Etri spoke to Today, expressing disbelief at the inflated prices supermarkets are charging for fruit and vegetables, attributing it to sheer greed.
“There’s no justification for the way supermarkets mark up their prices, especially on fresh produce,” Elijah said. “We see the actual costs—sometimes we even pay a bit more. We’re a small business, so we don’t have their buying power. But the key difference is how we set our prices. If we get a good deal, we pass those savings directly to our customers.”
With prices like $3 for a punnet of strawberries or blueberries, tomatoes at 99 cents a kilo, and carrots and zucchinis at just 69 cents a kilo, Skippy’s has a clear edge. Elijah credits this to their daily purchasing strategy.
“We buy fresh produce daily and sell it the same day. Supermarkets, on the other hand, plan their specials a month or two in advance,” he explained. “Our approach ensures freshness and allows us to offer better prices.”
Elijah also warns customers about another tactic used by supermarkets: convincing people that produce with minor imperfections is unsellable. This mindset leads to excessive food waste and drives up prices as farmers are pressured to meet unrealistic standards.
“The supermarkets have conditioned the public to only accept what they deem ‘perfect,’” Elijah said. “It’s about size, colour, and even minor scratches. For example, a scratched orange might be discarded, even though it’s perfectly good inside. This wasteful practice has been ingrained in consumers, and it’s hurting both farmers and shoppers.”
Elijah’s message is clear: don’t be fooled by the big chains. Support local, buy fresh, and don’t let superficial imperfections dictate your choices.
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