Upcoming Events

National | Environment

no events match your query!

Blog Feeds

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.

offsite link Trump hosts former head of Syrian Al-Qaeda Al-Jolani to the White House Tue Nov 11, 2025 22:01 | imc

offsite link Rip The Chicken Tree - 1800s - 2025 Tue Nov 04, 2025 03:40 | Mark

offsite link Study of 1.7 Million Children: Heart Damage Only Found in Covid-Vaxxed Kids Sat Nov 01, 2025 00:44 | imc

offsite link The Golden Haro Fri Oct 31, 2025 12:39 | Paul Ryan

offsite link Top Scientists Confirm Covid Shots Cause Heart Attacks in Children Sun Oct 05, 2025 21:31 | imc

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link British TV Comedy Has Lost its Class Sat Nov 22, 2025 17:00 | Finlay McLaren
The BBC's Director of Comedy wants to "save the sitcom". But the sitcom is only endangered because most of them stopped being funny. As To the Manor Born reminds us, British comedy has lost its class, says Finlay McLaren.
The post British TV Comedy Has Lost its Class appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Is the Era of Cheap Internet Surveys Over? Sat Nov 22, 2025 15:00 | Noah Carl
Is the era of cheap internet surveys over? A new paper demonstrates that AIs can now be "trivially programmed" to answer online surveys in ways that are essentially indistinguishable from humans.
The post Is the Era of Cheap Internet Surveys Over? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Thank Lockdowns for the Worst Budget in History Sat Nov 22, 2025 13:00 | Will Jones
We're a week away from the most painful Budget in history thanks largely to the eye-watering cost of lockdown. Yet Baroness Hallett says next time the Government must be ready to go harder and faster. This is insanity.
The post Thank Lockdowns for the Worst Budget in History appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Taxpayers Are Charged for the BBC Whether They Like it or Not Sat Nov 22, 2025 11:00 | Charlotte Gill
It's bad enough that all UK TV users are forced to fund the BBC via a TV licence. But it's worse than that, says Charlotte Gill: millions of pounds of taxpayers' money are handed to the corporation via backdoor channels.
The post Taxpayers Are Charged for the BBC Whether They Like it or Not appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link CPS Appeals Against Acquittal of Hamit Coskun for Burning Quran Sat Nov 22, 2025 09:00 | Will Jones
The Crown Prosecution Service is appealing against the acquittal of Hamit Coskun, who was convicted of burning the Quran in a protest, reigniting fears Britain could introduce blasphemy laws by the back door.
The post CPS Appeals Against Acquittal of Hamit Coskun for Burning Quran appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Will intergovernmental institutions withstand the end of the "American Empire"?,... Sat Apr 05, 2025 07:15 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?127 Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:38 | en

offsite link Disintegration of Western democracy begins in France Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:00 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?126 Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:39 | en

offsite link The International Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism by Amichai Chikli and Na... Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:31 | en

Voltaire Network >>

Selling Strawberries is illegal (in Waterford)

category national | environment | news report author Wednesday July 16, 2003 15:42author by Mags Report this post to the editors

This has got me annoyed, hence todays rant:

Anyone who travels around the country in the early summer will be familiar with the strawberry sellers. They have wee little stalls and trailers on the roads into main towns and sell strawberries and new potatoes. The operation is run by a co-op of small farmers from Wexford and the stalls are staffed by teenagers making a few quid at the weekends. The growers only have a few weeks to get their produce sold before the supermarkets swamp us all with imported and cheaper produce. They are very popular where I am from and people look out for them to buy fresh produce and support small local enterprise.

Right.

In Waterford roadside strawberry vendors are facing arrest. Waterford County Council and Gardai are clamping down on them. The council claims that it has five areas for 'casual trading' and that sellers must use these and pay a licence, otherwise they will be arrested and prosecuted. The 'Director of Services' (what that?) for the County Council, a Martin Walsh, says he has received complaints from other 'established' traders and has contacted the Guards to take action against the strawberry selling kids.

Apparently it can take up to a year for a prosecution to go to court so Walsh says that the Guards can ask the person to move on and if they refuse the cops can take (i.e. steal) their goods and equipment.

So this is what the paper shufflers in the Council are investigating and what our tax payers money is being wasted on. Guards galloping around the countryside seizing soft fruit from teenagers and threatening them with criminal records for trying to make a few euro. Must be a very low crime rate in Waterford so.

author by Observorpublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 15:48author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Its not just the litter caused by casual traders, the fruit is often kept in unsanitary conditions. Country people are not renowned for washing their hands after going behind a hedge. The Council are just acting in the best interests of the public.

author by Magspublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 15:56author address author phone Report this post to the editors

How is it impossible to post anything on this without the morons crawling out of their holes...

The reason given by the Council drone is that 'established traders' have objected - read: local FF gombeens running overpriced shops.

The motivation not related to litter, storage conditions or your frankly obnoxious comment on rural folk and toilet habits.

However you are obviously an educated urban upper life form - in that case how about learning how to spell 'hygiene'.

author by ollie - katalyzerpublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 16:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

the rule used to be that once you were outside the boundries of the town you were allowed to do it, and I wasn't aware it had changed. And this has has been going on for millenia, so to turn around and go on about a small number of designated areas is, quite frankly, a pile of piss! Bastardzzzzzzzz!!!!

The logic of being roadside outside a town is that it SPECIFICALLY doesn't disrupt small (minded) shopkeepers in towns, so it was fair...

hygine and strawberries - not exactly brainsurgery now is it....strawberries on sale isn't exactly raw meat now is it - how wrong can you go exactly?

Seperate to the different debate about pesticides, herbicides, additives etc which, as it happens are in higher concentrations in strawberries that almost any other fruit (its so soft ,porus ,and it 'needs' to appear bright red)......check http://www.panna.org

As for the other guy in this discussion.........not worth engaging with any more really.....

author by Observorpublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 16:12author address author phone Report this post to the editors

There are Health Regulations, EU, State and Local which cover all aspects of the sale of food. People selling food at the side of the road would not have access to a toilet or washing facilities.

There are plenty of Health & Sociological surveys which show a Hygiene deficit in the habits of Rural dwellers.

author by Sidlebarpublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 16:16author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I totally agree with Mags, what a stupid comment. Considering the pesticides fertalizers, etc used on fruit and veg I reckon grubby hands are the least problem. Solution mr Urban Observor, wash the fruit before you eat it. Or do you only buy prewashed imported Marks and Spencers fruit in those handy little packages. Oh and Moore St. is the cleanest area in the city too, all those little women smoking while handling the fruit uugghhh...boil em all!!!

author by Observorpublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 16:20author address author phone Report this post to the editors

They are used to indoor flush toilets and the practice of washing your hands after using the facilities. Toilet and washing facilities are provided by Dublin City Council for these tax-paying traders.

author by Hebepublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 16:27author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Its just sour grapes on his part, dont let him berry you. Stick to currant events, hes a bit sloe. You are still the apple of our eye.

author by Magspublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 16:35author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Our house (eight miles from a town) has a bathroom with a shower, flushing WC and washbasin. Some of the more modern rural houses have two bathrooms (these people would be twice as clean as my family, obviously).

The shops down our way sell soap, shampoo, shower and bath stuff (disguised soap as five times the price), body sprays, disinfectants, toilet paper, washing powder, cleansing wipes and loads of similar products. Also plastic gloves for serving foods.

However us boggers don't know how to use any of the above and are waiting for Mr Urban Observor to come down and give us classes.

Isn't it amazing that some people make the error of excreting via their facial orifice, rather than the more usual method used by the more ignorant among the population.

author by Observorpublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 16:48author address author phone Report this post to the editors

It is sad to see baths used for storing coal or for dipping lambs. Flush toilets are generally used (perhaps once a month) to wash feet. Showers comletely stymie the yokels.

It would indeed be a good idea to provide training courses in the use of these facilities for our country cousins.

author by DAASpublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 17:01author address author phone Report this post to the editors

WHO CARES??? THIS IS THE MOST BORING POST IVE READ IN YEARS, YAWN!!!

PLEASE ONLY CLICK ON PUBLISH NEWS IN FUTURE WHEN YOU HAVE SOME....SO INTERSTING THE PLIGHT OF STRAWBERRY SELLERS, OH LETS ALL GO AND HAVE A PEACEFULL PROTEST ON A ROADSIDE NEAR YOU!!!....YAWN...GET A LIFE

author by Indy Headpublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 17:05author address author phone Report this post to the editors

a raspberry at them. Fuckin boggers, probably on the dole and getting student grants while their da owns 500 acres and gets €100,000 a year from taxpayers.

author by student (pacifiscta)publication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 17:07author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Strawberries are worth almost 5 years in jail.
I've my eyes on ye.
poluting our youth with yiz primal screams and ken keasy spacers.

did your mammy in between brain washing you on which foot you kicked with, which tribe you belonged to, and whether you should really have to bring those mindwarping books back to the moblie library not tell you
WASH YOUR FRUIT BEFORE YOU EAT IT.

author by King Mobpublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 18:34author address author phone Report this post to the editors

How many cases of food poisoning do you hear about from fruit.

Plus any gobshite should wash any fruit or veg they get be it from a supermarket or roadside stall. Health and safety me fucking bollocks

King Mob will get all misty eye'd remembering getting fresh strawberrys at a roadside on the way home from the beach as a kid.

You are talking fucking shite

author by Observorpublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 18:38author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Now this expalians a few thing, all the parasites King Mob ingested as a kid have made their way to his brain. Which is situated in his arse. Thats why we have to endure his rantings.

author by Mikepublication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 20:47author address author phone Report this post to the editors

a) There usually are not flush toilets and/or wash facilities out in the berry patches either. THAT is the only time raspberries and/or backberries would be handled since they should be picked straight into the containers in which they are sold -- HANDLED MINIMALLY. Strawberies (which I don't grow myself) are a bit sturdier and CAN be picked into a different container than that in which they are sold. Blueberries are MUCH tougher and no there is no need to pick directly into the selling container.

b) They (raspberries, blackberries, even strawberries) should NOT be washed until immediately before eating. If washed they will get moldy sooner. Of course maybe the stores WANT half the berries you buy to rot uneaten. Blueberries won't be hurt by being washed though it will take some of the "bloom" off

The point I am trying to make is that it's irrelevant whether these fruits were picked by somebody with dirty hands, YOU wash them before eating. And as for the roadside seller, they should NOT be handling the fruit, just the outside of the containers. If the seller is handling the fruit taking it from some big container into the pint or quart boxes being offered you shouldn't want to buy it no matter how clean that person's hands are.

author by iosaf - (in the weird position these days of finding myslef sparring with King *¿?¿?¿?1¡ºª@ Mob.publication date Wed Jul 16, 2003 22:09author address author phone Report this post to the editors

an the chikkins are really clean as well.
and the pig.
and the cow.
and the fish?
so make sure you do what your mammy told you
and wash your chikkin, pig, cow, berries, fruit and fish in the lovely clean water you get.

author by Magspublication date Thu Jul 17, 2003 13:32author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Mike is right. The strawberry sellers I have seen already have the fruit in the litte 'punnet' plastic containers. Two different sizes. Potatos are also in bags.

It may come as a shock to some people on here to discover that the best organic fruit and veg are literally grown in shit. Horse manure for mushrooms and cattle dung for potatoes. I think it is a big pit of pig shite needed before you put in the rhubarb stools (bad pun!).

So always a good idea to wash the resulting product.

author by Observorpublication date Thu Jul 17, 2003 13:41author address author phone Report this post to the editors

These could previously have been used as piss-pots or God knows what by our country cousins.

author by ollie - katalyzerpublication date Thu Jul 17, 2003 14:13author address author phone Report this post to the editors

unless u need some abuserant practice, but, why waste all that precious nrg.......

and, person with the cap locks on, this actually is news...on indymedia.....!! Be happy, rejoice sing from the heavens!!

author by Timpublication date Thu Jul 17, 2003 18:39author address author phone Report this post to the editors

It is obvious that the point of moving off street side strawberry sellers is to limit competition and to line the coffers of others.

as for poor hygiene, there's plenty of eateries in towns and cities more hazardous in terms of hygiene, but the time it takes to do anything about them is ludicrous. (a take away with a filthy kitchen will get done quicker for
a> not paying tax to the revenue commissioners
b> spreading e-coli in their food ?)

all answers on a 500 EURO note to me at my usual address.

Our troll here is wasting typing and reading time amusing (her/him)self.

author by iosafpublication date Thu Jul 17, 2003 20:37author address author phone Report this post to the editors

and they don't have them in Greece.
lots of money 500€.
W€F.
how much do your strawberries cost?
competition.

author by ceptic eye - badlypublication date Wed Jul 23, 2003 00:50author email jfox at hotmail dot comauthor address author phone Report this post to the editors

why would any kid want to sell fruit? surely they should be smuggling diesel and infected cattle instead of wasting their time on friut.
as for piss on your hands, sure most of us drink pints in glasses from snot pickin,arse scratching,pissy fingered barmen. better than dandelion wine

Number of comments per page
  
 
© 2001-2025 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy