Hot debate over stickers

The creators of the fruit sticker agree with greenies who say the little labels are being overused.

Pukekohe couple Fay and Joe Gock initially created the fruit sticker to tell customers which watermelons were seeded and which were seedless.

But now, people are ‘‘doing silly things with stickers’’, Fay Gock said. ‘‘A lot of stickers are unnecessary. It wasn’t our intention to label everything, it was just to identify specific items so customers got what they paid for.

‘‘You put a sticker on the plum, the sticker is bigger than the plum.’’

Keen composter John Cole called the proliferation of fruit stickers ‘‘stickergate’’.

‘‘They’re small in isolation but stickers on fruit, which are generally made of plastic, are having a negative impact on the environment,’’ he told RNZ, spurring a heated debate on their use.

Simply Fresh general manager James Mclean said fruit stickers provide a vital service that customers enjoy and value.

‘‘We don’t put it on ourselves, if it’s got a sticker it probably sells better,’’ Mclean said.

Simply Fresh Produce is a Kiwi-owned and operated fruit and vegetable store in Auckland.

The price difference between bushels can range from $2 to $5 per kilo, which means stickers enable correct pricing and choice for customers purchasing fresh produce, Mclean said.

‘‘Different growers have different qualities and trying to communicate that is an important message that stickers provide.

‘‘We have a lot more variety than what there would have been ... before the sticker invention,’’ he said.

Simply Fresh puts a high focus on other sustainable solutions, such as implementing community input to eradicating plastic bag use.

‘‘There are other things we could focus on, stickers are a smaller issue,’’ he said.

Fruit sticker manufacturers, Jenkins Freshpac Systems Ltd, said in a time where fruit is imported from all over the world, consumers need to know where their food comes from.

However, this does not take precedence over sustainability.

‘‘We take our environmental responsibilities seriously,’’ spokesman Tom McLaughlin said. ‘‘The standard label is designed to stay on the fruit without hosting bacteria or fungal growth and is food safe.

‘‘The compostable option we call the Eco Label is currently more expensive due to the cost of the material it is derived from.’’

He said the company will continue to research and develop alternative label material solutions.