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Blackberries or Raspberries in Safeway Flyer, December 1, 2018

Produce used to be local. What we could buy in the shops was limited by what would grow in the surrounding countryside. And the seasons for many fruits and vegetables were often quite limited.

But those days are long gone. Now the entire world is our grocery store and thus we can buy fruits like Blackberries and Raspberries at any time of the year. By expanding the sourcing part of the supply chain the risks of crop failures cutting off supply are limited if not eliminated.

Are consumers happy about this? I don't think that most people have paid much attention to the changes in sourcing and it would be too bad if they didn't like it. These days for much of the year you have to accept that the berries will come from Mexico, Chile, Peru or elsewhere in Latin America, or have none at all.