Food availability in US vs. UK?

If you live in the suburbs, it's pretty easy as you will have large supermarkets with produce sections, farmer's markets, etc.

It can be much more difficult in some cities and in some poor neighborhoods that rely on very small grocers, convenience stores and bodegas.

Never have a problem where I live, we have farmers markets going on several times a week and local meat markets that have several farms local that they get there meat from to process.... Maybe I am just spoiled in a good part of the country... lol :drinker:

It depends on where you go. I grew up in a small, midwestern American town, surrounded by farms and Amish country, so fresh food was pretty easy to come by. There are, however, in some places what are known as "food deserts" where nutritious food is incredibly hard to get hold of, especially if you don't own a car.

I think it's easier to get nutritious food in the UK because the country is smaller, so you don't have to travel as far to get to supermarkets, farm shops, etc. Also, grocery delivery isn't really a thing in America, whereas in the UK, every major supermarket will deliver straight to your doorstep.

In my part of the US we have an abundance of food(PA); I just visited Colorado and they suffer the same fate, abundance of food. When I've visited (NY) I've little difficulty finding an abundance of options.

It is exactly like Britain here. Not a speck of difference.

no idea about the USA but here in the uk supermarkets are the mainstay of food shopping and they do sell plenty of fresh meat/fish/veg/fruit. Small veg shops and butcher do exist too though they have been squeezed out to a certain extent by the larger supermarkets. Most towns and cities are close enough to several large supermarkets.

Things like Farmers' Markets do exist too but these tend to be over priced and seen as speciality rather than core shopping.

If you live in the rural veg growing areas, like Norfolk, you can also buy plenty of cheap veg direct from the farmer but that does not stand for the whole country of course.

Basically it is fairly easy to eat well unless you live on a very limited budget in poor inner city areas where you are unlikely to find supermarkets and the cost of transport all adds challenges to those wanting to shop well. Having said that inner city areas are more likely to have small veg shops selling ethnic culture traditional fruits and vegs at a cheaper price so not all doom and gloom

It depends on where you go. I grew up in a small, midwestern American town, surrounded by farms and Amish country, so fresh food was pretty easy to come by. There are, however, in some places what are known as "food deserts" where nutritious food is incredibly hard to get hold of, especially if you don't own a car.

I think it's easier to get nutritious food in the UK because the country is smaller, so you don't have to travel as far to get to supermarkets, farm shops, etc. Also, grocery delivery isn't really a thing in America, whereas in the UK, every major supermarket will deliver straight to your doorstep.

Based on info from a friend of mine in the UK they also have better food law requirements than we do. For example, I believe GMO's have to be labeled there.

Yep, that too. I've lived in the UK for nearly 6 years, but if I still lived in the US I think my shopping habits would be very different to what they are now.

I have read posts by US posters describing how they have access to only one supermarket and that only sells frozen or tinned food. I found that really strange, not even one or two locally grown vegetables or fruits.

In my experience, even the smallest corner shops in the UK sell fresh fruit and veg, even in the middle of London. Then of course you have the well-stocked, high street Tesco Metros, M&S Food etc.

I have read posts by US posters describing how they have access to only one supermarket and that only sells frozen or tinned food. I found that really strange, not even one or two locally grown vegetables or fruits.

In my experience, even the smallest corner shops in the UK sell fresh fruit and veg, even in the middle of London. Then of course you have the well-stocked, high street Tesco Metros, M&S Food etc.

Ok, I admit it, there's no fresh food in the US. It's because we have no farmland or farmers. It's all urban jungle over here.

Fresh produce is in good supply in my main supermarket, as well as the others I go to on occasion. What are you thinking of that you were unable to find? Edit: I live in a city and typically walk to the grocery store. There are also lots of farmers markets this time of year.

Of course, in, say, December how fresh it is is debateable, since it isn't remotely local, but why would that be different in the UK?

OP, you must be shopping at nothing but convenience stores, particularly if you are in Manhattan as there is an abundance of fresh produce available there, and frankly, throughout the US. I think you win the Internet today.

I've spent more time in upstate New York and Brooklyn than Manhattan. I've also spent a lot of time in Alaska (no, seriously). I honestly can't remember the specifics of where I shopped, but I remember having to take the car and drive to find anywhere that sold fresh produce. Anywhere I've lived in the UK, there's usually a small-to-mid-size supermarket within walking distance (Tesco Metro/Express, Sainsbury's Local, M&S, Little Waitrose, etc.). They are squeezing out the old corner shop/post offices, but have a far greater range of fresh food, so I'm not sorry.

How do I win the internet?

My parents are currently moving from Anchorage. The are perfectly nice Safeways all over. Sure, probably not in the bush, but there seem to be obvious issues with population sparsity that make much of AK not really representative.

Considering what gas costs in the UK, I'd be inclined to not want to use my car there, either. Never mind the fact that Brits continue to drive on the WRONG side of the road. How nerve-racking! ;-)

OP, you must be shopping at nothing but convenience stores, particularly if you are in Manhattan as there is an abundance of fresh produce available there, and frankly, throughout the US. I think you win the Internet today.

I've spent more time in upstate New York and Brooklyn than Manhattan. I've also spent a lot of time in Alaska (no, seriously). I honestly can't remember the specifics of where I shopped, but I remember having to take the car and drive to find anywhere that sold fresh produce. Anywhere I've lived in the UK, there's usually a small-to-mid-size supermarket within walking distance (Tesco Metro/Express, Sainsbury's Local, M&S, Little Waitrose, etc.). They are squeezing out the old corner shop/post offices, but have a far greater range of fresh food, so I'm not sorry.

How do I win the internet?

You just lost the Internet IMO.

I'm UK too - and I say, screw the supermarkets - I'd much rather give the butchers, fruit shop, bakers and farmers markets my money. Although some does go to the protein websites, I'm afraid :blushing:

Our food (US) sucks. Most produce is produced with GMO's, which aren't labeled. Thankfully where I live there are a few family owned farms that sell meat and produce that is fresh and not grown/fed with chemicals.

I disagree. US food is superb. The Pacific Northwest is chock full of farmer's markets, local ingredients, farm shares, community gardens, and small business vendor stands which offer organic foods that are generally much cheaper than their supermarket counterparts.

Last time I was living in the Midwest (a couple years ago) Wisconsin, Yooper Michigan, Southern IL, & St. Louis also had farmer's Market and small local businesses selling local produce for the same price or cheaper than the big-name grocers (that is, if the food in question was in season--- off season more pricey).

It's NOT hard to find raw ingredients for cooking and it is generally cheaper than processed foods if you know where to shop. More than anything, the problem I see is that not everyone knows how to cook or is willing to invest time/energy into cooking after working 2 jobs and going to school.