In cooperation with independent research center ROMIR (www.romir.ru), Street Poll takes a look at opinions on the safety of fruit and vegetables sold in Moscow, the subject of a recent survey by the agency. Hundreds of Muscovites aged 18 or older participated in the ROMIR survey.

Natalya Yeponeshnikova, actress

I buy fruits and vegetables at open markets, and I never thought that they might be contaminated. When you buy something, sellers usually say exactly what you’re buying and what its origin is. Sometimes, I buy vegetables near my home at reliable grocery stores. I know them very well, and they wouldn’t sell bad fruits and vegetables.

Lyudmila Fesenko, model

Just next to my home, there is a Perekrestok supermarket. I trust them and hope that they select fruits and vegetables very carefully. Plus, if they sold bad products once, nobody would visit them again. When I buy, I always examine fruits and vegetables and look at them, though it’s impossible to track down whether one fruit or vegetable was planted in a contaminated zone – radiation is invisible. So far, I haven’t had any problems.

Natalya Sukhova, English teacher

Lately, I have given up trusting vendors. They always say that fruits are fresh,but I encounter rotten or bad vegetables and fruit quite often. There were quite a few times when I was been poisoned, but I don’t have any direct evidence that it was caused by vegetables and fruits. Often, I ask the seller where something came from. If it seems suspicious, I don’t buy it. But I’m very busy, and I buy fruits and vegetables on the go, so it’s hard to always be sure that everything is O.K.

Vladimir Nikolayev, realtor

Sometimes I start thinking about what I’m buying, and I ask myself if some fruit or vegetables are good or not – especially if Azeris are selling them. If you ask about the origin of what you’re buying, the response is always the same: They lie. I would avoid buying anything from Belarus and Northern Ukraine [places contaminated by radiation from Chernobyl]. But, when you ask about fruits and vegetables, there is always one answer: that they are fresh and delicious.

Vitaly Skudarnov, construction worker

In summer and autumn, I don’t buy any fruits or vegetables. My dacha gives me everything I want. I buy some in winter and spring. Certainly, when you buy, there is the possibility of being cheated. Look at the markets: Nobody wants to confess that his chicken is from America, but I guess a large amount is. It’s the same with fruits and vegetables. I have a rule against buying anything from the Caucasus. The sellers frequently cheat people.

Alexei Yemelianov, translator

I purchase fruits and vegetables based on their appearance. If they look good, I’ll buy them; if they don’t, I won’t buy them. Certainly, it’s not the best way to choose, just by looking at them, but what I can do? I don’t have any detection devices, though it would be a way out – to go to the market with your compact chemical detector.

Fruit and vegetables are a staple of the Russian diet. In June 2002, the independent polling center ROMIR conducted a survey dedicated to the habits of Muscovites when buying fruits and vegetables.

In addition to traditional agricultural markets (collective farm markets) and specialized vegetable and fruit stores, sales of fresh produce have greatly increased from roadside stands and mini-markets close to metro stations and other crowded places. The capital’s supermarkets also provide a wide range of fruits and vegetables, both domestic and foreign, and are gaining in popularity.

The results show that the most popular places to buy fruits and vegetables remain traditional city agricultural markets, where a wide selection is offered at affordable prices. At the markets, it is possible to buy a large volume of fruit and vegetables – convenient for stocking up on potatoes, vegetables for canning, etc. The negative factors are dirtiness, poor organization, poor service from salespeople and the possibility of being shortchanged. Respondents with a higher-than-average income try to obtain their groceries elsewhere. The benefits of street vendors are their convenient locations, relatively low prices and long working hours. The drawbacks are poor service and sometimes poor product quality.

Participants said they like being able to purchase vegetables and other foods in small grocery stores, but dislike the limited selection and relatively low quality of groceries.

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