In China, Japan and Korea it kills elms, horse chestnut, poplars, maples, alders, willows and a range of fruit trees.

BBC: By BBC Environment Correspondent Robert Pigott

The forests are abundant with medicinal plants and mushrooms, and the fields produce maize, squash, tomatoes, beans, watercress and potatoes, as well as a large range of fruit.

BBC: In Oaxaca, a community unchanged

Over the past few years, its stores have been offering a wider range of salads and fruit as well as premium strength coffee.

BBC: A broader menu has helped the chain appeal to new customers

The company's range of goods includes fruit spreads, fruit juices, pasta and pasta sauces, nut butters, dressings and oils, which the company boasts are free from artificial ingredients and preservatives.

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In turn, the discount stores will offer a wider range of fresh food, such as fruit and vegetables, to match shoppers' demand for healthy alternatives.

BBC: Planning 'key to avoiding waste'

The zip-code notion is more subtle: poor areas have fewer supermarkets, with their greater choice of fruit and vegetables, and more convenience stores, with their narrower range.

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