Retailers Snub Exotic Import

Heralded as the ‘superfruit’ of 2010, it has been welcomed with a predominantly positive press following a greenlight by EU Novel Foods.

However, the approval has sparked criticism from independents who argue that the move detracts attention from British produce.

“The British fruit industry has been badly hit by imports from abroad. Do we really want to endorse something that adds further weight to this blow? I’m disappointed the EU seems to be moving in this direction again,” said Richard Brooks, owner of The Cotswold Food Store, Gloucestershire.

Shoppers are now buying baobab directly, believing it to be the health food of the decade (it reportedly contains three times more vitamin C than an orange,  twice as much calcium as milk and twice as many antioxidants as goji berries).

“I’m not saying don’t import anything from abroad, I’d just like the industry to concentrate on getting people conscientious about British food first, before seducing them with other options. It seems a shame to send mixed messages when so much work has been done to show our support for local producers,” said Mr Brooks.

The argument that catering for a more bizarre market is important to the future of the UK food industry is acknowledged, but not seen as justification for the EU approval.

“Of course there will always be a market for oddities, but surely it would be better if we concentrated on getting the majority of people to focus on British before steering them towards imports?” said Mr Brooks.

“If you went to France, for example, 99% of people would be drinking and eating produce sourced locally. That’s where we need to be,” he added.

Baobab is a white, powdery fruit pulp with a tangy taste, described as ‘caramel pear with subtle tones of grapefruit’.

Thanks to DADOBAT (Domestication and Development of Baobab and Tamarind) for the photography.
Visit http://www.dadobat.soton.ac.uk/english/static/fruits/fruits.aspx