Hao chi! (Delicious!)

Yummy summer fruits ..... in winter?! All this fruit for about $10 - very expensive for China, but so cheap for Western prices.

Since I began spending a lot of time at Anita and Ben's farm, 'Wild About Fruit', in Coldstream, some years ago, I learnt a lot about the production and selling of fruit. In particular, I learnt about the value of eating seasonal fruits and vegetables. Seasonal fruit however seems to be a little different here in Wuxi as the best fruits to buy at the moment are all summer fruits - pineapple, mangoes and strawberries. It certainly feels a little strange to be eating such yummy, juicy fruits when it is wet, cold and miserable outside!

My local fruit store.

I always visit the same fruit store, normally 2-3 times a week, and always after I've been to the gym. I have been trying to practise my Mandarin on the store owner and she is always so patient with me. We seem to be able to communicate successfully with a combination of poor Mandarin and a lot of sign language. She always thinks it's funny when I come in on my bike, with my face red and sweaty!

What amazing service!!

I try not to think too much about where the fruit has actually come from, preferring to wash it thoroughly and enjoy the taste. The only orchards and vegetable gardens I have ever seen here have always been next to the dirty canals or factories pumping out loads of pollution into the air, and no doubt onto the fruits and vegetables. I have also heard other disturbing things about fruit and vegetable farming - apparently, they dye the soil or the actual vegetable to ensure that it looks fresh and colourful! Hmmm, no more unpeeled fruit and vegetables for me then! Lovely fruit lady!