Having direct knowledge of the industry, the produce market is done in tiers, with certain buyers having access before others in Calgary.
Fairly similar to the meat heirarchy described above. On a typical morning, buyers are allowed to pick in this order:
1. Restaurants / food-service companies
2. Costco, Co-op, Local small retailers
3. Sobeys (Safeway now, used to be at 2 above), IGA, Save-on
4. Then the remaining food is left un-refrigerated for 3 weeks, allowed to be picked over by fruit flies and other bugs
5. Superstore then purchases
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