Do you have access to fresh food items where you live?

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In my work, I focus on topics that are relevant to Swiss citizens abroad – from political developments in Switzerland and their impact on the diaspora to social, economic, and cultural issues. Before joining SWI swissinfo.ch, I worked as a local journalist for the Aargauer Zeitung. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Multilingual Communication and, as is typically Swiss, completed an apprenticeship as a commercial employee.

Deutsch

Haben Sie in Ihrem Aufenthaltsland einfachen Zugang zu frischen Lebensmitteln? Original
Français

Avez-vous facilement accès à des aliments frais dans votre pays de résidence?
Italiano

Avete facile accesso a cibo fresco e sano nel luogo in cui vivete?

Have you ever heard of “food deserts”? It’s a term for areas in which people have limited access to affordable and healthy food.

Supermarkets with a range of fresh products are rare in these areas. The population does have access to food, but often only to unhealthy, processed and ready-made products. This is one reason for the prevalence of obesity in the United States and Canada.

What is it like where you live? Can you walk to a supermarket? Or do you live in a food desert? Tell us about your experiences.

From the article Swiss emigrant creates oasis in Canadian food desert

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worldtraveller 2021-12-10 07:19

The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

@Hat Who told you that All Swiss pay for their foods at self-service stalls? We have seen in many instances that Swiss are really not any better then other Nationalities. They just think they are! Being Swiss as well, abroad I am sometimes ashamed at so e of my country men behavior.

eduard 2021-12-09 22:44

The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

We live in Morocco. We have everything and that virtually on our doorstep. Fresh vegetables are available 365/365 days a year. The basic food is subsidized. Sugar, salt, flour, oil and also the fresh milk. Thanks to this control of prices, the danger of inflation is also well under control.

Wir leben in Marokko. Wir haben alles und das quasi vor der Haustüre. Frische Gemüse gibt es 365/365 Tage im Jahr. Die Basis Lebensmittel sind subventioniert. Zucker, Salz, Mehl, Öl und auch die frische Milch. Dank dieser Kontrolle der Preise ist auch die Gefahr von Inflation gut im Griff.

Tanja Krezdorn 2021-12-07 22:31

The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

Here you can find everything in abundance, ok the prices went up, so we look a) for local vegetables and / or fruits and b) also for inexpensive

Hier gibt es alles in Hülle und Fülle, ok die Preise stiegen, daher schauen wir a) nach einheimischem Gemüse und/oder Früchte und b) auch auf günstiges

François Delafontaine 2021-12-02 09:48

The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

No problem in France. There's even a small local market every week within walking distance of my building if I wanted.

Aucun problème en France. Il y a même toujours un petit marché local chaque semaine à deux pas de mon immeuble si je voulais.

mipalol619 2021-11-28 13:46

In Switzerland it is getting more and more expensive to get fresh food.

My family moved here 18 years ago and all of us have Swiss passports (2 surgeons, 1 architect and 1 master electrician for large buildings). When we came it was easy to get good fresh food but over the last 2 years prices more than doubled.

We're preparing to leave the country as it makes no sense anymore with the quality of life in big cities being less than in any other west, central or east european country. With no social events, all the restrictions and ever increasing prices while our wives have lost their jobs it makes no sense to stay.

I have a dentistry surgery clinic while my brother works at the main hospital in the city. These days Swiss people vote on restrictions but not one of then thinks of the bad quality of life for everyone else working here and that we are about to leave and nobody will replace us.

For my family Portugal will give us the same amount of fresh food if not more by being close to a few farms and with no social life in the equation we'll get more out of the good weather and cheaper prices.

PS: I expect our opinion to be censored as the Swiss love to discriminate against foreigners as our opinions do not mater to them

Isabelle Bannerman SWI SWISSINFO.CH 2021-11-30 10:27

@mipalol619

Hello, we do not censor opinions. We moderate comments according to our guidelines. Your last sentence, actually, is a generalisation, which is against our guidelines. You can find them [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/terms-of-use/44141966]here[/url]. Kind regards.

Lamah 2021-12-07 10:57

@mipalol619

bonjour MIPALOL619. je compatis vraiment à votre peine. ils m' est vraiment difficile de rester indifférent face à vos difficultés étant donné que je peux faire quelque chose. je suis agronome et je pense qu'ensemble nous pourrons grandir. A plus tard chère ami

LynxVegas 2021-11-25 09:21

In Switzerland, I have easy access to fresh food, although the choice is very limited. When I visit the UK, I often just wander around large supermarkets, amazed at the range of products. However, before online shopping, where I live is quite remote, with a bus every 2 hours, or a long walk to the nearest shop. I rarely shop for food online as I like to see what I am buying. So, I need a car to do my shopping, if I have a lot to carry.

FreduB 2021-11-24 18:24

The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

If we can't walk to a supermarket in Switzerland, it's not because we have a "food desert", but because we live in the country.
But we have an excellent public transport network, so that we can go to the weekly market or supermarket in a few minutes. The vegetable and fruit variety is very large and leaves nothing to be desired.

Wenn wir in der Schweiz nicht zu Fuss in einen Supermarkt können, liegt das nicht an einer "Food Desert", sondern daran, dass wir auf dem Land leben.
Wir haben aber ein ausgezeichnetes öffentliches Verkehrsmittel-Netz, so das wir in wenigen Minuten zum Wochenmarkt oder Supermarkt fahren können. Die Gemüse und Früchte Vielfalt ist sehr gross und lässt keine Wünsche offen.

Melanie Eichenberger SWI SWISSINFO.CH 2021-11-25 09:43

The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

@FreduB

Thank you very much for your contribution. That's exactly the point: in North America, you can only dream of a transport network like the one we have here in Switzerland.

Vielen Dank für Ihren Beitrag. Genau das ist der Punkt: In Nordamerika kann man von einem Verkehrsnetz, wie wir es hier in der Schweiz haben nur träumen.

Brida 2021-11-24 14:02

The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

I have lived in Torremolinos, 13 km from Málaga, for over 30 years. We have a vegetable/fruit shop on every corner. Also other, from almonds to lentils, you can buy open (unpacked). You can also bring a tupperware and have it filled.
I would totally despair if that wasn't the case.

Ich wohne seit über 30 Jahren in Torremolinos, 13 km von Málaga entfernt. Bei uns gibt es an jeder Ecke einen Gemüse/Früchte-Laden. Auch anderes, von Mandeln bis Linsen, kann man offen (unverpackt) kaufen. Man kann auch ein Tupperware mitbringen und abfüllen lassen.
Ich würde voll verzweifeln, wenn das nicht so wäre.

d.maumary 2021-11-24 10:23

The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

Yes, it's still possible in Japan. Japanese are on the whole honest, so forgotten things usually come back (in my case a camera, a mobile phone & a wallet ).

Ja, in Japan ist das noch möglich. Japaner sind im großen Ganzen ehrlich, deshalb kommt Vergessenes meistens zurück (in meinem Fall eine Kamera, ein Handy & ein Portemonnaie )

Anonymous 2021-11-24 10:01

I live in Switzerland and we live on IMPORTED food. I believe more than 80% food are imported from neighbouring countries.
I do miss SEAFOOD, which is limited and insanely expensive in Switzerland. A good quality fish (from the ocean) will cost 3-5 times that compared to places nearer to the Ocean (eg: Genova).
Fresh fruits and vegetables are easily available but the variety range is pathetically small and limited. I cannot keep eating only potatoes, salat, carrots, paprika and onions. Can I?
I count myself more lucky than people living in war zones, but I count myself unlucky than people living in more diverse countries like Singapore or New York.

FreduB 2021-11-24 18:16

@Anonymous

In der Schweiz dürfen Sie natürlich einkaufen, wo Sie möchten. Wenn Sie bei frischem Gemüse nur eine kleine Auswahl aus dem Ausland haben, kaufen Sie am falschen Ort ein. In der Coop oder in der Migros, gibt es frisches Schweizer Gemüse in grosser Auswahl.
Bei Meeresfrüchten ist der Fall klar, die Schweiz ist ein Binnenland und dementsprechend sind frischer Fisch und Meeresfrüchte teuer. Es gibt aber tiefgefrorenes Seafood zu günstigen Preisen.

Melanie Eichenberger SWI SWISSINFO.CH 2021-11-25 09:54

@Anonymous

Thank you for your contribution. Where exactly do you live in Switzerland? Maybe you went to the wrong places to buy fresh food? I often go to the market in front of the parliament house in Berne. There you find a variety of good and healthy food. For example Swiss sweet potatoes or excellent kale and not only carrots or onions ;-) . And even fish from the Sempachersee is available at the market on Bundesplatz. Did you know, that there are [url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/alpine-caviar-and-papayas-come-to-switzerland/7127408]Papayas growing in the Bernese Oberland[/url]? Check out these links: "[url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/the-sounds-of---_when-parliament-square-becomes-a-market/44776276]When parliament square becomes a market[/url]" and "[url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/exotic-plants_six-trend-foods-that-grow-in-switzerland/44410508]Six trend foods that grow in Switzerland[/url]" .

IrisB279 2021-11-25 12:25

@Anonymous

Cela dépend où vous habitez. À Genève, il y a un grand choix de produits frais, que l'on peut obtenir directement auprès des maraîchers locaux, qui si je ne m'abuse, vous font une livraison à domicile. Un magasin comme Manor offre une très bonne sélection de produits frais locaux (la Migros aussi) et un choix correct de poissons, mais évidemment, ce sont les tarifs suisses qui s'appliquent. Si vous vivez proche d'une frontière (France, Italie), vous pourriez peut-être faire vos achats là-bas? Occasionnellement bien sûr.

Anonymous 2021-11-25 23:40

@Melanie Eichenberger

I live in Zurich canton (outskirts). The most expensive city in the world. The best?
Not when it comes to food. Of course, if money is not a problem, Jelmoli Supermarket has EVERYTHING. And I am not super rich, so I buy from COOP, MIGROS and sometimes even Aldi (God forbid!).

IrisB279 2021-11-23 11:53

The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

In Slovenia, and Ljubljana in particular, it is very easy to get fresh produce. The big market on the central square is open 6/7 days, offering a variety of local products at low prices (vegetables, fruit, fish, meat, dairy products, honey, etc.). This is also where some restaurant owners come to buy their products directly. In the supermarkets, there is also a good offer, but the choice is less and the quality is poorer. The only thing that may be lacking is the lack of certain products that are not or hardly available here (e.g. green bean fillets, watercress).

En Slovénie, et Ljubljana particulièrement, il est très facile d’obtenir des produits frais. Le grand marché sur la place centrale est ouvert 6/7 jours, offrant une variété de produits locaux à bas prix (légumes, fruits, poissons, viandes, produits laitiers, miel, etc.). C’est d’ailleurs là que certains restaurateurs viennent s’approvisionner directement. Dans les supermarchés, il y a une bonne offre également, mais le choix est moindre et la qualité plus médiocre. La seule chose qui fait peut-être défaut, c’est le manque de certains produits qui ne sont pas ou peu accessibles ici (p.ex. haricots verts filets, cresson).

Melanie Eichenberger SWI SWISSINFO.CH 2021-11-25 10:04

The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

@IrisB279

Thank you very much for your contribution. Very interesting. In a pinch, could you possibly grow cress yourself? Here's a link on how to do that: [url=https://hausinfo.ch/fr/jardin-balcon/verdir-balcon-jardin/herbes-aromatiques-balcon-jardin/fines-herbes-a-z/cresson.html]Planter du cresson[/url].

Vielen Dank für Ihren Beitrag. Sehr interessant. Zur Not könnten Sie Kresse eventuell selbst anpflanzen? Hier ein Link, wie man das machen kann: [url=https://hausinfo.ch/fr/jardin-balcon/verdir-balcon-jardin/herbes-aromatiques-balcon-jardin/fines-herbes-a-z/cresson.html]Planter du cresson[/url]

IrisB279 2021-11-25 12:20

The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

@Melanie Eichenberger

Thanks for the tip Melanie, that's a great idea :) That said, the watercress I miss is the one available in the UK which I believe is called "Watercress", used as a salad in its own right. But I'll take your suggestion.

Merci pour le conseil Mélanie, c'est une excellente idée :) Ceci dit, le cresson qui me manque est celui qui est disponible au Royaume-Uni qui est appelé je crois le "Cresson de fontaine", utilisé comme salade à part entière. Mais je retiens votre suggestion.

d.maumary 2021-11-22 19:41

The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

Here in Japan there are still vegetable fields in the agglomerations, where fresh vegetables are offered in an unmanned stand. You put the required amount in a collection box & take the purchases with you. It doesn't get much more ecological than that.

Hier in Japan hat es auch in den Agglomerationen noch Gemüsefelder, wo in einem unbemannten Stand frisches Gemüse angeboten wird. Man legt den verlangten Betrag in eine Sammelbüchse & nimmt die Käufe mit. Viel ökologischer geht es nicht.

Frodo 2021-11-24 04:22

The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

@d.maumary

Potatoes, eggs and milk can also be bought in some places in Switzerland at the unmanned farm shop.
Some take the things and put buttons and other worthless things in the cash register so that it looks like they had paid for the things. Others take the things without paying. Unfortunately, the age of honesty is over.
How do you solve this problem in Japa?

Kartoffeln, Eier und Milch kann man auch mancher Orts in der Schweiz beim unbemannten Hofladen kaufen.
Manche nehmen die Sachen und legen dafür Knöpfe und andere wertlose Sachen in die Kasse damit es aus sieht sie hatten die Sachen bezahlt. Andere nehmen die Sachen ohne zu bezahlen. Das Zeitalter der Ehrlichkeit ist leider vorbei.
Wie löst man in Japa diese Problem?