the vegetables which are sold in this supermarket are grown without chemicals

Have you ever wondered why you can’t find wild berries, mushrooms, or other foraged foods in your local supermarket? While supermarkets offer a wide variety of produce from around the world, the selection of wild foods is typically limited or non-existent.

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We’ll explore the reasons why most wild foods are not sold in supermarkets, and delve into the challenges of selling foraged foods in the shops.

Supermarkets need lớn make food sales profitable, ví they often choose crops that can last long periods, have a uniform size and weight, and look visually appealing, which can come at the expense of flavour and nutrient nội dung.

To achieve this uniformity, large scale farming relies on herbicides and pesticides, which harm beneficial insects, earthworms, and vital organisms in the soil. These chemicals also damage soil, leading lớn an overreliance on artificial fertilizers lớn produce crops.

In contrast, wild plants are naturally resilient, adapting lớn harsh conditions, competing with other plants and protecting themselves from herbivores. This often leads lớn higher nutrient nội dung and bolder flavours, such as sour, salty, bitter or pungent.

Food must withstand long-distance transportation and storage lớn arrive fresh and in good condition. This often means that delicate and smaller berries, lượt thích wild strawberries, bilberries, and mulberries, are not economically viable.

Similarly, wild herbs and salads lượt thích wild garlic, sorrel, and dandelion leaves have short shelf-lives and are hard lớn transport long distances, making them unsuitable for large-scale farming.

Foraging is therefore the best option for those who want lớn enjoy the taste and health benefits of these delicate berries, herbs, and salads.

Most people in Western societies have become accustomed lớn the neutral and sweet flavours of cultivated crops. In contrast, many of those plants growing wild have bold and distinct flavours, such as sour, bitter, salty, or pungent.

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For example, a good number of wild leaves, such as dandelion and chicory, are naturally bitter. While there is certain preference toward these flavours in Mediterranean countries, other cultures may not be as fond of bitterness, other than thở beer or coffee.

Similarly, Middle Eastern countries grew lớn embrace the tartness of sour cherries, while some European countries tend lớn prefer sweeter varieties.

Some wild foods cannot be cultivated due lớn their specific growing conditions and requirements. Mushrooms are notoriously difficult lớn grow and there is only a reduced number of species that can be cultivated.

Certain mushrooms such as morels, chanterelles and parasols need specific soil types, moisture levels, and symbiotic relationships with tree roots lớn grow. Trying lớn cultivate these mushrooms would be impractical and likely result in low yields.

This is why foraging for wild mushrooms can be a great alternative lớn buying them from the supermarket. Not only you get lớn enjoy the unique and delicious flavours of these mushrooms, but you also get lớn experience the thrill of the hunt.

Final thoughts