One of the things I love about living in Italy is the small, locally owned food shops.
In Bagni di Lucca I like to shop at Patrizia’s fruit and vegetable establishment. Here it is “Non si tocca”, “Don’t touch”. Patrizia will help you chose what you want, the perfect tomatoes for your salad for lunch, the best pears to poach, or the melon that will be ripe for a Sunday feast.
We have markets that come to the village twice a week offering wonderful produce at excellent prices.
I can’t imagine why you would want to shop in a huge supermarket when you have gorgeous shops like this one in Florence.
…or the Central Market for fabulous choice like this.
..or this lovely deli in Lucca.
We have lost our butcher in Bagni di Lucca. He made the best sausages, but he couldn’t compete with the 2 supermarkets in town.
Other small shops have closed too, a deli and a fresh pasta shop. I hate to see this happening, but I can’t see a solution if people continue to do most of their shopping at supermarkets.
Here in Brisbane we have some excellent alternatives to supermarket shopping. In my local West End shopping strip we have a very good fruit and vegetable shop where you actually get to deal with the owners.
Mitch at James St markets has a great range of fresh food.
Jerome at the Sourced Grocer in New Farm has reinvented the corner store. He searches for small producers of delicious food for his well stocked shop. As well as this there is a small kitchen preparing breakfast, lunch, coffee and treats to eat at a long table. It is a great place to meet your friends while finding something special for dinner.
In Australia 2 large supermarket chains control the bulk of food retailing, which to me is all wrong. As well as setting the shopping hours and reducing the prices paid to producers, they are removing brand names from their shelves and replacing them with their own in house brands…just another way of removing the competition.
Of course supermarkets are convenient and it is easy to get into the habit of one stop shopping, but if we don’t use the alternatives there won’t be any.
Go for a walk, get to know the small businesses in your area. I’m sure they will be happy to see you.
Hmmm same here in nz….progressive and foodstuffs…aussie owned i think..well progressive is… I like to buy locally too here but the sad reality is, here and like many places, its more expensive but a large portion than the supermarket….that is sad and it is one of the things I love about small places in italy that still are able to do so…shop locally:)
By: ilovelucca on August 8, 2013
at 8:12 am
In Italy it is actually cheaper to buy from small markets. I love to shop at the local markets in our area.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:18 am
yes, it is in Italy but its not the case here, maybe because I am in the city which means my local is a suburb….but my mum who lives in a village of 1000 now only has one shop and it is way way too expensive to buy anything but bar the most rudimentary items there…..even the fruit/veg local farmer is not cheap either which is sad because most people would love to buy locally here and there but it is too pricey in many cases…At our local butcher here, i can only get 3 days meat which would buy me 5-6 days at the supermarket..
By: ilovelucca on August 8, 2013
at 9:39 am
Lovely post, Deb! xx
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on August 8, 2013
at 8:25 am
Thank you. Shop local and in season.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:19 am
It’s terrible when little shops give out to supermarkets. Part of the trouble isn’t just the “lower” prices (at the expense of quality) – it’s the rent factor – especially in Lucca when international names are willing to pay the property owners more to get a foothold in the market and oust previous local tenants who just can’t afford to pay those rents demanded.
By: Francis on August 8, 2013
at 8:44 am
I like to see small shops flourishing. It is much nicer to buy from somebody you know.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:17 am
Patrizia also makes some beautiful “bouquets” or bunches using small chillies and other veggies as if they were flowers.
On the other hand, I think that Italian supermarkets offer an excellent variety of products, including regional produce. And there are differences between what you can buy at say Esselunga in Maria and Leclerc-Conad in Gallicano or even the more local Conad supermarkets in Fornoli or Bag I do Lucca. The Wednesday and Saturday markets on the square at La Villa also offer very nice local produce.
I must add that we are spoiled for choice in Bagni di Lucca…
By: mulino dominillo on August 8, 2013
at 8:52 am
I agree that the supermarkets in the Bagni di Lucca do a good job, but it would be a real shame if the small shops kept disappearing because they can’t compete. Once they are gone, it is very difficult to get them back, just look at Ponte a Serraglio.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:16 am
Hear! Hear! Shopping is a moral and social act. Do you want your money to go to the shareholders of supermarkets, who you don’t know, or to your friends, as small shopkeepers will become if you make a habit of buying from them? As to prices, the low prices in supermarkets come at the cost of beating down the prices of producers. In order to sell to supermarkets, artisan producers begin to industrialise, if they don’t go out of business. Also, have you ever calculated whether you really spend less at a supermarket? All those bargains: two for the price of one. Did you need two baskets of peaches? Did you manage to eat all of them before they started to rot or did you throw out the second basket? Given rising obesity, wouldn’t it make sense to buy less, but buy better?
By: Heather Jarman on August 8, 2013
at 10:25 am
I’m with you Heather.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:20 pm
Look at the size of those onions!
Great points about small, local stores. Here in the US, small grocers are rare. Summers are a wonderful time with farmer’s markets – which have great melons right now!
By: aFrankAngle on August 8, 2013
at 10:42 am
We lost most of our corner stores in Australia many years ago. There has been a small trend for these to come back. I hope it continues.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:21 pm
We have excellent farmers’ markets in Australia most weekends. They are a fun place to shop.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:21 pm
If you want more evidence of the evils of supermarkets, here’s what they’ve done to the tomato and the people who grow them in the US: http://politicsoftheplate.com/?page_id=831. I agree with Mulino Dominillo that some Italian supermarkets have locally produced food, but I wonder what the producers would tell us about the effect on them of supplying supermarkets.
By: Heather Jarman on August 8, 2013
at 10:42 am
I can’t stand “centri commerciali” and new ones are sprouting up all the time – viz yet another on Viale Europa, Capannori. Who said we needed them….
By: Francis on August 8, 2013
at 10:47 am
There are huge shops in that area near Lucca. Somebody must be shopping there.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:22 pm
Absolutely I agree. It is up to us to keep these small shops alive by supporting them and by not shopping solely at W and C. Actually I mostly avoid shopping at the majors here in Australia as monopoly is dangerous. It is not good that these 2 chains have approx 80% of the market here. Debra you have hit a raw nerve here with me. Sadly it would appear to me that most people do not get it.
By: aussiegirl0905 on August 8, 2013
at 11:08 am
Unfortunately convenience wins in many cases.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:23 pm
It is so important that small shops like these exist. They bring character to the village.
By: cosi1956 on August 8, 2013
at 11:24 am
They certainly do. It would be a shame to lose them.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:24 pm
I loved to watch them dear Debra, I love Italian markets… so beautiful and rich… Mediterranean is amazing. Thank you, love, nia
By: niasunset on August 8, 2013
at 12:47 pm
I love them too Nia, but many are disappearing.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:24 pm
The produce looks amazing! Here in Ecuador, we try to buy as much as we can from the “mercados.” It’s all local and so, so affordable.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on August 8, 2013
at 1:01 pm
I’ll bet they have some interesting produce.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 10, 2013
at 7:20 am
I, too, love the small stores for food. Their quality is so much better than the large supermarket chains. Farmer’s markets have become a huge thing here in California and it’s a joy to see them always full! I think that people are beginning to see the value of eating produce fresh from the farm! Whenever I go to the farmer’s markets, I feel like I’m visiting the mercatos in Italy! But sadly, I think the Italians are going to the way of convenience….and it’s a shame! PS…I have gotten reprimanded many times in Italian produce markets for touching the goods! Oops!
By: tesorotreasures on August 8, 2013
at 1:38 pm
It seems Italians love to shop at supermarkets. I see trolley laden with stuff at the checkouts.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:26 pm
These shops could really use a break from the bureaucratic difficulties of running a shop in these small towns and a tax incentive would be very welcome. The opposite seems to be happening. Economic conditions force the locals to shop where they can get the biggest break.
Patrizia’s shop in BDL also has some lovely ceramics. I usually make a purchase every year as a reminder of our special time spent here.
By: dianepk on August 8, 2013
at 4:00 pm
We now have a very good shop in Vergemoli where our new house is. I think the mayor arranged a special deal for the food shop and the pharmacy to allow them to operate. It is great to see people lined up to buy the produce. Previously they had to go down the mountain to the nearest supermarket.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:28 pm
Lovely post and pictures Debra. I never expected Lucca to have supermarkets at all! I detest characterless supermarkets, and even malls. Let us hope neighbourhood markets can fight back, with a little help from loyal customers 🙂
By: Madhu on August 8, 2013
at 4:41 pm
There are several huge supermarkets around Lucca, not inside the walls fortunately, but not far outside, and they are very popular.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:29 pm
It is so sad to see the small local businesses not be able to succeed…especailly when their products are so lovely.
By: Karen on August 8, 2013
at 7:14 pm
It is sad when these shops disappear,we need to support them.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 8, 2013
at 9:31 pm
Such a shame that they are closing down! Small shops like that should be treasured 🙂
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on August 9, 2013
at 1:28 am
We have lost our mini market, butcher and hardware shop in the 10 years I have been in Ponte a Serraglio. I can’t see how we will get them back.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 9, 2013
at 6:01 am
I so absolutely agree with you with the Italian little markets, I enjoyed that so much recently when I stayed in Tuscany , in Mercatale, not onlt the shopping was wonderful also listening to all the locals and the way they greet each other. Bon giorno signora! Cornelia
By: corneliaweberphotography on August 9, 2013
at 2:48 am
Shopping at the markets is a great experience. That just doesn’t happen at supermarkets.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 9, 2013
at 6:02 am
Just one bite of the delicious fruit and vegetables from these amazing places and there is no going back to big supermarkets. Beautiful mouth watering photos. Melissa
By: Melissa Ryan on August 9, 2013
at 4:13 am
I refuse to buy fresh food at our supermarkets here in Australia…for many reasons.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 9, 2013
at 6:03 am
Vegetables and fruit sold in season are the only way to go. Coming back from Italy to the UK every time, and seeing the perfectly shaped red bell peppers, featherlight, from glasshouses in Holland, compared the heavy odd shaped pepperoni che si trovano in italia wakes me every time me to the culture of growing and eating there – long may it exist
By: swimanog on August 9, 2013
at 6:34 am
I hope the food culture doesn’t change in Italy too much, but I fear it might.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 9, 2013
at 7:51 am
In Pitigliano many people own small land holding not far away from the town, growing all their own. One step up from that there is a lot of local produce grown and sold to shops from the area. In Rome they have the great Trionfale market where you simply are overwhelmed by the amount of produce – and what a market! It would a massive cultural shift for Italians to lose the base of their food culture. In many ways they have sidestepped the worst of the junk food culture, but having their own superb fast food – pizza, which when made in Italy is simply another fine cooked food. But there are worrying inroads, supermarkets, Macdonads etc But Italians still have it right in the home cooked food and the (mini) markets thrive
By: swimanog on August 10, 2013
at 5:35 am
Thoroughly agree with you Debra….much better to shop “fresh” and more often at smaller, local shops……the food is so much better!
By: Pauline on August 9, 2013
at 4:12 pm
It helps if you can shop more than once a week, but I know that is not always possible if you work full time.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 10, 2013
at 7:22 am
You are so right. The wonderful italian fruit & veg is so much better at the local suppliers and markets than the large stores.
By: Jim & Kerry on August 9, 2013
at 6:35 pm
I much prefer to shop at the markets.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 10, 2013
at 7:22 am
True that, Debra. Very true. I always make it to a point to patronize local businesses. Sometimes, I don’t even go to downtowns and chooses to support the smaller businesses closer to my place.
By: rommel on August 11, 2013
at 11:03 pm
I hope more people look for smaller businesses to support.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 12, 2013
at 12:03 pm