A friend of mine, Matt, was in a Budgens Express store in central London the other day when he noticed, to his astonishment, fruit in special plastic wrapping. He took the picture shown and was outraged that they even come with a 'free handwipe'.

This is clearly an example of urban consumer culture going further than - surely - anyone could want it to. Would you really want to eat this plastic-coated fruit, or would you prefer to buy something fresh from a real greengrocer or street fruitseller?

What's even more galling is that the company that produces these things even boasts on its web site of offering an organic range of products. Note that you can also get plastic-clad pears, grapes, apples and bananas.

 http://www.fruitonthemove.co.uk/fom.htm

Aside from the sheer insanity of this kind of thing, the serious environmental message is obvious: if you buy one of these things, you encourage more waste of more plastics. Plastic can be recycled, yes, but for the vast majority of households, only glass, drinks cans and newspaper are easily recycled. Plastic is not so common.

If you're out and about and you fancy a bit of fruit, at least try to buy the real stuff. Not this horrible, wasteful "alternative".

(same goes for those bloody pre-peeled appled and oranges)

NB SARA Produce Ltd (fruit importers) also do the range Fruitkids that many schools now buy.