• The vital role of value-added services

Perusing the produce aisle at our local supermarket during a recent  grocery run, The Sunday Morning Brunch noticed a selection of pre-cut vegetable and fruit options. The immediate thought that ran through our minds was: “Wow, people are so busy that they cannot even cut their own vegetables.” Since these packets typically appear to be single servings, the conversation gradually shifted to how those who buy them may even be lazy and entirely unbothered to actually purchase, clean, and then cut up their vegetables.

However, as the conversation progressed, we soon realised that this view failed to take into account the different groups of people who could use such a product – individuals who buy pre-cut vegetables are not always able-bodied twenty-somethings who only have themselves to take care of. Sometimes it is elderly individuals who struggle with handling a knife, persons with skin conditions unable to handle the cleaning and scrubbing required by root vegetables, or persons with disabilities – there is a plethora of explanations as to why someone may need pre-cut vegetables.

Fresh-cut produce, also known as pre-cut produce, is any raw produce that has been cleaned, cut, and packaged for ease of use or retail sale. Unlike the raw alternatives available, these types of produce are considered ‘processed’ since they have been changed from their original form. These products often are lumped into a larger category of produce that has been deemed ‘value-added’ – typically because they add greater value to the end-user in the form of convenience.

A purpose beyond convenience 

The existence of pre-cut produce serves a purpose beyond convenience. When The Sunday Morning Brunch spoke to grocers regarding the typical customer who purchased these pre-cut produce, they shared that it was often younger people buying for their elderly parents who may live away from home. 

One grocer said: “I know a girl who comes and buys a lot of these pre-cut packets to give to her mother who lives alone. She only goes home to her mother over the weekends as she has to work in Colombo during the week. She therefore buys pre-cut vegetables and stocks her mother’s fridge. If she had time to do it herself, I believe she would do it, but it seems that this is the easiest, most convenient way. She has told me that her mother is then able to simply toss these vegetables into a salad, eat it raw, or maybe fashion it into some sort of curry.”

It appears that there is a whole world of people who benefit from these services, so Brunch reached out to a number of individuals who had experiences to share regarding the use of pre-cut produce. They pointed out that people should not immediately pass judgement when seeing services that were made available, especially services that they themselves may not need. “Not everyone has the same needs, so it is important to be inclusive when offering goods and services as well.”

Kumudu Perera shared that as someone with a full-time job as well as a family to maintain, she found it rather convenient to have pre-cut vegetable options as an alternative to cleaning and chopping them up. 

She said: “It may seem like a little thing to simply cut up some vegetables, but when I am anxious or stressed, I often find myself struggling to do menial repetitive tasks like chopping and handling a knife. It is not just vegetables I buy pre-cut; I also purchase boneless chicken and pre-cut seafood, etc., because it makes my cooking experience easier and more relaxing. The alternative would be to order in, but that is not affordable nor sustainable, and of course, it is also very unhealthy to always eat out, so this has been a wonderful alternative, since I am able to prepare a home-cooked meal without much trouble.”

Irangani Vinitha shared that she purchased pre-cut produce due to a prevailing skin condition that made it difficult for her to handle harsh soaps and have her hands submerged in water for extended amounts of time. She said: “I have a form of eczema on my hands which makes my skin very thin and my nails incredibly sensitive. It is something I have developed as I have aged. Being nearly 70 years old now, I cannot handle the scrubbing of root vegetables and I can’t really effectively clean green leaves and other such vegetables, so I choose to buy pre-cut vegetables for convenience and ease of handling.”

Irangani added: “There is also an aesthetic advantage when they are pre-cut. I suppose they are cut by a professional, or at the very least by someone who does it a lot, so they are cut quite nicely and they look great in your curries, which doesn’t hurt because we all eat with our eyes first. It is good to have neatly cut vegetables in our food.”

Ultimately, it appears that convenience serves as a central factor in the decision-making process. However, people have a diverse array of reasons for opting to purchase pre-cut vegetables. This service significantly enhances the quality of life for numerous individuals, enabling them to augment their independent lifestyles. Despite its seemingly simple and inconspicuous nature, this service is deemed necessary by many, illustrating its substantial impact on the daily lives of those who avail themselves of it.

Necessity rather than choice

Brunch also spoke to Shyam Udayasiri, who we encountered while purchasing groceries, and he too shared that he purchased pre-cut options due to convenience. Experiencing frequent tremors in his hands, he finds it inconvenient and, at times, dangerous to handle a knife, making this a fitting compromise for him. He noted: “I don’t cook very often, but when I do, it is something I really enjoy doing and I have to overcome this simple obstacle of chopping up the vegetables. This allows me to easily bypass that small hurdle.”

However, he added: “There is somewhat of a markup when buying these pre-cut items, which is fair because it is value-added, after all. However, with these recent price hikes, there have been times where I wondered if the convenience is worth the cost. But to me, at the end of the day, the convenience really is worth it, since it could become a health hazard if I chop off a finger just to save a few rupees. So I think I will stick with the pre-cut vegetables, but I do wonder if there are others like me who buy this out of necessity and are now unable to afford it.”

It is evident that many individuals access these value-added services out of necessity rather than choice. While one may initially assume that such services cater exclusively to affluent individuals who simply can’t be bothered, or to exceptionally busy people who share a similar lack of interest, or even to those perceived as lazy and unwilling to learn basic skills such as cutting vegetables, the reality is more nuanced. 

These services often become a necessity for the elderly, who may find themselves unable to safely handle the tools necessary to prepare their own food. Additionally, individuals with specific health conditions may encounter difficulties in completing tasks like cutting vegetables. This broadens our perspective on specialised services, prompting contemplation on their overarching purpose to be inclusive and more accessible to all, regardless of their individual circumstances or limitations.