This plastic-wrapped pre-cut avocado is wrong in so many ways

This plastic-wrapped pre-cut avocado is wrong in so many ways
This plastic-wrapped pre-cut avocado is wrong in so many ways (Facebook)

Earlier this month Whole Foods got a Twitter spanking for selling pre-peeled oranges, individually packaged in plastic containers. Less than two weeks later a Canadian grocery chain is getting spanked for selling plastic-wrapped, pre-cut avocados.

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It all started when Christine Kizik posted a photo on Facebook of the offending pre-cut, plastic wrapped avocados being offered for sale at a local Sobeys grocery store. She included the following message with the $3.99 avacodo.

“Surprised and disappointed after a friend posted a picture of an avocado for sale at his local Sobeys in Thornhill, ON. It’s been precut, then wrapped in plastic and cardboard. Avocado’s have their own perfect, compostable, wrapping. Adding packaging to an avocado is strange to say the least. This is wasteful and I’m curious about the reasoning for Sobeys stocking avocado this way? Looking forward to a response. Thank you.”

Surprised and disappointed after a friend posted a picture of an avocado for sale at his local Sobeys in Thornhill, ON….

Posted by Christine Kizik on Friday, March 11, 2016

The grocery chain responded to the Facebook post with the following statement:

“This product was developed for people who might be new to using avocados and for a little more convenience. It eliminates the guess work when it comes to ripeness and any challenges if you are not familiar with peeling and seeding a fresh avocado. The packaging is there to keep the fresh wholesome appearance and quality of the avocado without it browning prior to consumption.”

That’s when the spanking and mockery began:

Lara V. Nelson wrote: Sobeys- “It doesn’t look fresh or wholesome. It looks like a waste and a farce. There is nothing “new” or “natural” about this product as the unnecessary and excessive packaging suggests. How about a sticker or a little sign on the avocado section with some simple instructions on how to open an avocado for those new to this wonderful and naturally well-packaged fruit? This is a shameful and ridiculous step backwards.”

Nigel Oliveira wrote: “Could you please create another version with the avocado cut into bite-size pieces, with each piece wrapped in its own box? Halves are just too much trouble. Thanks.”

Ash Yassin wrote: “This is the worst idea ever!! is it meant to save “lazy” people time from cutting and opening the avocado or is this supposed to make the avocado last longer? Whatever the heck the reason is, still is the worst idea. Insulting to the beauty and taste of an avocado!”

Whole Foods in the US responded to criticism over pre-peeled oranges by offering an apology on Twitter and pulling the product. Sobeys appears to have taken the opposite approach. At least for now.