Came across an interesting discussion on Twitter today. Recently, ferry services to both Shetland and the Hebrides have been severely disrupted because of weather, leading to empty shelves in supermarkets.
A Green councillor in Shetland has mooted the idea that we revert back to supplying shops from local producers, as regards vegetables, dairy products and bread - to name but a few items. Shetland had several days of no supplies - we only had one.
Are we, consumers in Stornoway and beyond, prepared to revert back to the limited range and supplies of the era that existed before the likes of Tesco and the Co-op came on the scene here, about 40 years ago. Older islanders will be familiar with the idea, which saw many small shops supplying the town and villages in Lewis and Harris. Do we want to go back to that? Should small-scale producers of vegetables and milk be encouraged again? Are we prepared to put with the limited range of products that will be available, should we decide to forego the services of the big supermarket chains?
My hunch is that we are all only too used to the lovely ranges and ease-of-use foods that Tesco et al supply. Whilst being all in favour of encouraging local small producers, and perhaps setting up chains of shops around the island, I do not expect that people would be happy to be weaned off St Tesco and Co-op.
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