Coop Norway has encouraged its shoppers to keep buying local vegetables, despite an ongoing drought that has impacted the farming industry in the country.
Due to the hot summer, many vegetables on the shelves vary in size and shape, however Coop is seeking to assure shoppers that the quality of said produce is still the same.
Quality Control
"The quality of the goods is just as good, customers can be sure of that," said Harald Kristiansen, Coop communications manager.
"However, due to drought and difficult conditions, the vegetables will look a little 'thinner' and vary in size and shape. We are now working closely with farmers to see how we can help and make sure that consumers can keep choosing Norwegian vegetables."
Coop has said that as well as vegetables, it is also working with farmers to ensure that Norwegian meat remains fully available for shoppers.
"In line with our zero waste vision, we are working on continuously reduced food prices throughout the value chain, and close collaboration with both customers and farmers is important," Kristiansen added.
Groundwater Levels
Earlier this week, the state agency that monitors Norway's waterways, NVE, said that it has never recorded as low a level of groundwater as it has this summer.
As news portal newsinenglish.no reported, there are concerns that the lack of groundwater will also make it harder to fight fires that are breaking out due to the drought, as well as meet the needs of the farming community.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
