What a load of rubbish.
So people that want to move out here are not allowed to post, Spanish people that probably know more about Spain than you ever will can`t post on here cos they are not expats, get real and read the site rules too.

I am staying cos I love Spain, I would sooner be skint here than in the UK.
I speak and mix with everybody and wouldn`t have the cheek to ask if they were expats, the king of Spain or a bloody looney as I would soon know by the conversation.
If you get crap food in the restaurants then try another, or buy your own and cook at home.
Get back on topic and answer the OP`s question. Bah humbug....

Agree. I find it ridiculous to suggest that the Spanish grow separate crops, the rubbish goes to N. Europe, the good stuff stays in Spain, and none of the stuff from the huge greenhouses in sold is Spain. Fresh fish is another myth, Spain has fished out most of it's waters, and now has to travel further and further from Spain for it's supplies. They fish off the coast of Africa, Canada, UK waters, all over, and do you think that isn't frozen for the trip back.
I can understand people moving to Spain for the weather, but not for the food. When in Spain we only ever eat Spanish food because we enjoy it, not because it is fresher than other EU countries. I saw some "fresh fish" prepared in a restaurant in Andalucia, it involved taking some frozen fish out of the fridge, put in the sink, boiling water from the coffee machine was poured over it, ten minutes later it was on the plate. Delicious!

All this over a few carrots and cabbage..............

Well seeing as you are getting pedantic about the use of words, I at no time said it was "a true reflection of the whole of Spain".

I’ve just got back from shopping at Mercadona. I bought some salmon at the fresh fish counter and it was delicious. I did wonder, after reading previous posts, where it came from. I didn’t bother to ask the pretty young Spanish girl who served me, in case she stopped smiling, and how would she know?

Salmon in Spain? I don’t know the answer, possibly a Scottish fish farm? If so, my compliments to their expertise and lang may their lum reek.

I only had one problem while shopping. Someone slipped a bottle of Smirnoff into my trolley. I’ve just put some ice and diet coke into it, and it’s just as delicious as the salmon.

I wont ruin your dreams by telling you that a lot of Scottish Salmon comes from Norway then.

Smithfield for the meat & the one in Borough was simply called The Borough (not forgetting Covent Garden of course)

A recent trip to the UK left me amazed at the vast range of quality fresh food items on display in Tesco/Sainsburys from every corner of the world, you name it-they had it. We need to be mindful though that they will only accept the best & will reject out of hand any product that fails to meet their standard.

Brian

I don’t know about that, but I watched a programme the other day which said that Scottish fish farms are almost as important to their economy as North Sea oil. It stands to reason, they’ve got the fish coming off the Atlantic to spawn, in their millions, and they’ve got the sea and freshwater lakes (lochs) to cater for them. Why not keep them there and make some money?

Smithfield, of course it was, thanks Brian. I’ve had many a breakfast there, in the early hours. And Covent Garden? All theatres now, isn’t it?

Not sure what it has to do with this topic, which is way off course. but ,extra virgin olive oil is cheaper in the UK. Can't be as good as bought in Mankydonna though

Yes sir & long gone.
Spent a piece of time there in the early 70s pulling fruit & veg to most other markets.

Toms, I have eaten them from all the supermarkets here & in the UK and the variety here have a real tough skin for my taste. Even ones we know that are grown locally & given to us free (free normally improves the taste)
I fancy that we are inclined to believe that the gnarled items that you often see here, whether they are from the little stool in Paco's garage/the local market/or supermarket shelf are somehow better ?

I was taken by a Spanish friend this evening out to the next village where the are a huge number of acres under plastic & mesh where the grapes grow, and us and many others could take what we wished. Why so Benjamin ?
Ah the best go to Europe.
The next to the local supermarkets etc.
What is left they cannot sell (suited me mind)

Also strange here is that many food items are going up in price ?, not down as you would in a recession like we are seeing now.

Brian

So do I and in fact I won't buy Spanish produce in the UK because of the plasticulture.

It is my experience of Spanish food too. And I do shop at the local market.