Calwell... Land of the jerk?

We ventured into the deep south for a trivia night at the calwell club the other night, that place is a rat hole. At the end of evening we made sure we secured our valuables and made a mad and terrifying dash to our car that was parked near the tavern – never again.

the previous posts piqued my curiosity so I googled for Calwell shops – and even google do not recommend visiting their website (2 attacks past 3 months)…

madamcholet said :

allyroger said :

madamcholet said :

There are things called “withholding periods” which means that a chemical cannot be sprayed onto produce within a certain timeframe of being plucked form the ground and sold. Fruit and veggies sold in the commercial sector gets tested – this is the law). It means that if residues of chemicals which are systemic and not just on the outside of the fruit or veg, then the whole thing can be traced back to the producer and infact where tehy bought the chemical. Not sure that stuff sold at farmers markets is subjected to these tests – just sayin’

Er, most of the producers at the Farmers markets advertise no pesticides and completely organic. Its not even close to compare Woolies. Some of that “produce” can be in the supermarket system for months before being trotted out to you. And completely agree with all the comments about Calwell, you can apply them to the Hyperdome too.

There are non-synthetic products i.e. chemicals that already exists in nature that can be used on your produce that are considered ok by organic bodies – such as pyrethrin. There is also a higher risk of salmonella or similar bacteria due to the use of organic fertilisers…

I’m not anti organic – far from it as I buy organic meat just because I think it tastes better, but I am under no illusion that it is “better” than any other produce. What I think matters is that people understand the parameters of organic farming.

The organic industry is notoriously unregulated. I recall having a conversation with the owner of an organic produce shop in Canberra and she had no idea that organic producers can use chemicals. Just called them “nasty chemicals”.

I personally don’t care if it is organic or not. I buy at the Farmers Market because the stuff is fresh and tastes better than anything I ever had from the Fyshwick Markets or a supermarket. As an added bonus, the stall holders are friendly and, as many of them eat their own product, they are always happy to swap cooking tips and ideas (provided they are not flat out of course).Many of them also take orders adn I have a few of them that I get the same things from every week adn they have them all sorted and ready for me to pick up eg. ten kilos of mixed apples every week (I buy for 4 families)

You never get service like that anywhere else.

allyroger said :

madamcholet said :

There are things called “withholding periods” which means that a chemical cannot be sprayed onto produce within a certain timeframe of being plucked form the ground and sold. Fruit and veggies sold in the commercial sector gets tested – this is the law). It means that if residues of chemicals which are systemic and not just on the outside of the fruit or veg, then the whole thing can be traced back to the producer and infact where tehy bought the chemical. Not sure that stuff sold at farmers markets is subjected to these tests – just sayin’

Er, most of the producers at the Farmers markets advertise no pesticides and completely organic. Its not even close to compare Woolies. Some of that “produce” can be in the supermarket system for months before being trotted out to you. And completely agree with all the comments about Calwell, you can apply them to the Hyperdome too.

There are non-synthetic products i.e. chemicals that already exists in nature that can be used on your produce that are considered ok by organic bodies – such as pyrethrin. There is also a higher risk of salmonella or similar bacteria due to the use of organic fertilisers…

I’m not anti organic – far from it as I buy organic meat just because I think it tastes better, but I am under no illusion that it is “better” than any other produce. What I think matters is that people understand the parameters of organic farming.

The organic industry is notoriously unregulated. I recall having a conversation with the owner of an organic produce shop in Canberra and she had no idea that organic producers can use chemicals. Just called them “nasty chemicals”.

Had many problems with woolies there, bunch of the rudest, most unhelpful and “no idea how to manage” people I have ever met – so steer away from there. Don’t go near the open coffee shop or the newsagency. Be careful when going into the bank that you don’t interupt a conversation between the tellers.
Having said that, the Tobacconist, butcher, patto’s grog shop, take-away, Chinese restaurant and video shop have always been able to provide something called customer service.

madamcholet said :

There are things called “withholding periods” which means that a chemical cannot be sprayed onto produce within a certain timeframe of being plucked form the ground and sold. Fruit and veggies sold in the commercial sector gets tested – this is the law). It means that if residues of chemicals which are systemic and not just on the outside of the fruit or veg, then the whole thing can be traced back to the producer and infact where tehy bought the chemical. Not sure that stuff sold at farmers markets is subjected to these tests – just sayin’

Er, most of the producers at the Farmers markets advertise no pesticides and completely organic. Its not even close to compare Woolies. Some of that “produce” can be in the supermarket system for months before being trotted out to you. And completely agree with all the comments about Calwell, you can apply them to the Hyperdome too.

There are things called “withholding periods” which means that a chemical cannot be sprayed onto produce within a certain timeframe of being plucked form the ground and sold. Fruit and veggies sold in the commercial sector gets tested – this is the law). It means that if residues of chemicals which are systemic and not just on the outside of the fruit or veg, then the whole thing can be traced back to the producer and infact where tehy bought the chemical. Not sure that stuff sold at farmers markets is subjected to these tests – just sayin’

madamcholet said :

Fyshwick markets undoubtedly sells better looking produce than any Woolies. Never sure about Farmers Markets and the provenance of the food…having looked at their requirements to get a stall, it doesn’t really go into food safety – as far as I can see. Just cos the person selling grew it, doesn’t mean it’s any better…infact we knoe less about it. Could have sprayed it the day before they sell it.

Food safety? Its fresh food…… Do you not wash your fruit & vegies before you eat it? Do you really believe a carrot grown “organically” is different to one that is not (apart from the price)?

The farmers markets crap all over Woollies & Fyshwick for quality & freshness.

Maybe people have become too used to black spot on their cualiflower to know the difference.

Fyshwick markets undoubtedly sells better looking produce than any Woolies. Never sure about Farmers Markets and the provenance of the food…having looked at their requirements to get a stall, it doesn’t really go into food safety – as far as I can see. Just cos the person selling grew it, doesn’t mean it’s any better…infact we knoe less about it. Could have sprayed it the day before they sell it.

madamcholet said :

I too go to Lanyon for a better experience, and Fyshwick markets at the weekend for fresh stuff.

Fresh food at Fyshwick Markets??? Most of it is the same crap as everywhere else from the markets in Sydney, with the notable exception of the places that make fresh food on site. I only go there for Plonk these days.

I highly recommend getting up on a Saturday or Sunday morning and going to the farmers markets at Epic (sat) or Woden (sun), then you will experience properly fresh food and the people are so much friendlier.