'We are an endangered species' said Dan Taylor, one of the last three traditional greengrocers in the entire city of Exeter.
If you estimate that every one of Exeter's 129,000 residents eats fruit and veg, that means a customer base of 43,000 each. They must be queuing out the door.
Alas, no.
Over the past 20 years, we have lost several thousand greengrocers from British high streets, with a report in 2007 showing five closing every week between 1996 and 2007. In recent years, Exeter has lost its Stokes in the St Thomas precinct and the greengrocers in Heavitree High Street.
Watch why everyone loves Magdalen Road
But there are a trio of stalwarts who are still going strong. Among them is Dan, who runs The Grocer on the Green in Exeter's Magdalen Road.
He said: "It all changed with the birth of the supermarket big shop.
"I can remember growing up in Pinhoe looking out over fields and there was a white horse, and hen suddenly the construction started of Sainsbury's and bang, that was it. My mum's shopping habits completely changed and she got everything at the supermarket, but interestingly, there seems to be a shift away from the big shop again."
The Waitrose Food and Drink Report in 2017, showed how supermarket shopping trends had shifted from the big shop to little and often, with a rise in people nipping in to get dinner on their way home from work.
And they have got more environmentally conscious too, wanting to avoid waste and plastic wrapped products.
Dan said: "People by bits and pieces everyday or every few days - they don't want big pre-packed bags of fruit that will go to waste or big bags of nuts that will go stake. They want to pick just what they need, which is how it always used to be, it's not a new trend, its just going back to the way things used to be."
He said that customers like the fact that he knows where everything has come from with 15 local suppliers.
"They come in and want to know, 'what's good at the moment, Dan?' or they want recipe ideas.
"They know that what they get here is tip-top because my deliveries come in every few days."
Dan started the shop 18months ago after having a fruit and veg stall for a number of years. His customers use all the independents on Magdalen Road - voted one of the best shopping districts in the world by Guardian readers.
He used to work at Piper's Farm, which had a butchers shop in the road before it took its business online and took on the fruit and veg trade after owners of greengrocer EM Hills and Sons retired.
"I knew there would be a good trade here because people really do value the independents here. They pop in the fishmongers, the wine shop and the deli and treat them like each department in a department store.
"I like the conversations and getting to know people, their children and their dogs and they like getting to know me, my children and my dog. It's about community."
In Whipton, Jacob Viju and JoJo Paul bought the village greengrocers in July, saving it from closure after about 45years of trading.
Jacob said: "It wasn't doing very much at all but it's crucial to the village."
Jacob, a former care home manager, has kept the shop front the same, with its traditional awning and fruit and flower displays outside.
And along with the Post Office and bakery is a vital part of the community.
He said: "The difference between the supermarket and our fruit and veg shop is not only the local suppliers but it's that we have the time to talk to people, they come in to shop and share a few words.
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"There are a lot of elderly people in the village and they see us as somewhere to come and have a conversation and we deliver to people who can't get out as much as they want to. That's all part of living in a village and being part of it," he said.
But the shop has had to adapt, bringing in more lines to attract a bigger customer base.
Jacob said he can get the freshed produce from local suppliers and stocks duck eggs and 'double yokers' from nearby producers.
"I have introduced Asian foods and biscuits from India which people have tried and really love. They don't mind trying something new," he said.
Plus he opens seven days a week, opening until 7pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 8.30pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
"We are right by the bus stop and we want to be open for when people finish work and get something for dinner or for the next day."
Sidwell Street's Eat Your Greens is the last greengrocers right in the centre of the city. Selling fruit and vegetables from local suppliers, it also supples veg boxes locally and meat boxes with the neighbouring butcher Hartnells.
Last summer, owner Sara Murphy, said that the student population had been a great boost for business. “I wish we had students 12 months of the year.
“They eat really well and want good fruit and veg. We would not be here if it wasn’t for students. We can really see the drop off during the summer months."
