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I went to the store today. Wanted to get some healthy stuff. Sap a stack of apples. At least, I think they were apples. Yes, they were apples. But what disturbed me most about these apples was how "perfect" they were. There must have been 500 apples on that display, and each one looked exactly the same. Plump, firm, shiny, ripe, and without a single bruise or blemish (for the most part).

I purchased five of them. When I got home, I washed one off and bit into it. Perfect. Delicious. Later I had another. Perfect delicious.

Okay, you know where I'm going with this. I want to be healthy. I'm trying to eat right and do other things to get in shape for the upcoming tennis season.

But really, just how "healthy" is all this "perfect" fruit? Is it safe? Is it just as good for you if not better for you than the fruit I remember from my childhood; the fruit with a few bruises here and there?

If anyone is in the know at all, or has a strong, educated or even not-so-educated opinion, please feel free to provide some input on this subject.

-EarlJam

Funny, but I developed a very strong sensitivity to apples, pitted fruit, and a lot of other fruit when we lived in Atlanta. I couldn't eat a peach without having extreme heartburn, my tongue started swelling, etc... Organic and regular fruit yielded the same results. Cooked fruits were fine; raw sucked.

In Lexington, I can eat practically any raw fruit.

Why the difference?

This is right up DukeTaylor's alley. He manages a Kroger up in Richmond. PM him. Also PM him on DBR because he might check that more often than he does here. Or if you want, I'll PM him there and tell him to look here for your PM to him.

I sent him a PM on DBR telling him to look here!

OZZIE4DUKE wrote:This is right up DukeTaylor's alley. He manages a Kroger up in Richmond. PM him. Also PM him on DBR because he might check that more often than he does here. Or if you want, I'll PM him there and tell him to look here for your PM to him.

Yes, could you do the latter please? I appreciate it! I am, of course, still banned from the other site. Life-long ban ever since the "nipple and razor" incident with Jumbo.

-EarlJam

EarlJam wrote:Life-long ban ever since the "nipple and razor" incident with Jumbo.

Dare I ask?

It always seems to me that the perfect looking, perfectly shaped fruit of today doesn't taste as good as he fruit of old. Remember going right to the orchard and picking our own apples? They looked like crap, but you just can't get that flavor in the store.

DukeUsul wrote:It always seems to me that the perfect looking, perfectly shaped fruit of today doesn't taste as good as he fruit of old. Remember going right to the orchard and picking our own apples? They looked like crap, but you just can't get that flavor in the store.

This is SO true and I find it especially true of tomatoes. There's NOTHING like the taste of a home-grown tomato. To me, it is an entirely different taste than anything you get from the store. Even as you're walking up to the vines, the aroma that fills the air. Awesome.

-EarlJam

EJ, I agree with you. Thats one of the benefits of having a garden. Even with a small yard, places can be found to grow plants.

EarlJam wrote:

DukeUsul wrote:It always seems to me that the perfect looking, perfectly shaped fruit of today doesn't taste as good as he fruit of old. Remember going right to the orchard and picking our own apples? They looked like crap, but you just can't get that flavor in the store.

This is SO true and I find it especially true of tomatoes. There's NOTHING like the taste of a home-grown tomato. To me, it is an entirely different taste than anything you get from the store. Even as you're walking up to the vines, the aroma that fills the air. Awesome.

-EarlJam

I have been pleasantly surprised that the organic grape tomatoes sold at Walmart are actually pretty flavorful. The blueberries are also very good... large, juicy, dense flavor. (They come from the southern hemisphere which is enjoying summer at the moment.)

My first choice for purchasing fresh produce is the farmer's market. Especially during the winter, I try to stick to what's actually in season.

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:

EarlJam wrote:

DukeUsul wrote:It always seems to me that the perfect looking, perfectly shaped fruit of today doesn't taste as good as he fruit of old. Remember going right to the orchard and picking our own apples? They looked like crap, but you just can't get that flavor in the store.

This is SO true and I find it especially true of tomatoes. There's NOTHING like the taste of a home-grown tomato. To me, it is an entirely different taste than anything you get from the store. Even as you're walking up to the vines, the aroma that fills the air. Awesome.

-EarlJam

I have been pleasantly surprised that the organic grape tomatoes sold at Walmart are actually pretty flavorful. The blueberries are also very good... large, juicy, dense flavor. (They come from the southern hemisphere which is enjoying summer at the moment.)

My first choice for purchasing fresh produce is the farmer's market. Especially during the winter, I try to stick to what's actually in season.

I LOVE blueberries.............and grapes. Love to put them in the freezer then eat them frozen.

Just wanted to share, as your post reminded me.

-Earl Blueberry and Grape Jam

Just remember the massive amount (well, maybe not as massive as third-world countries) of pesticides U.S. farmers use on their crops.

Disease/Insect infestation vs. Unhealthy effects of Pesticides

So far we've all been able to deal with the unhealthy effects - in fact pesticides have saved MILLIONS of lives.

Yeah, I just did a project on pesticide use for APES.

Rolvix wrote:Just remember the massive amount (well, maybe not as massive as third-world countries) of pesticides U.S. farmers use on their crops.

Disease/Insect infestation vs. Unhealthy effects of Pesticides

So far we've all been able to deal with the unhealthy effects - in fact pesticides have saved MILLIONS of lives.

Yeah, I just did a project on pesticide use for APES.

Are they crop dusting to rid of Apes these days?

"I'm tired of these mutha fuggin' Apes, on my mutha fuggin' Grapes!"

Kidding. Cool info; feel free to share more!

-EarlJam

EarlJam wrote:

Rolvix wrote:Just remember the massive amount (well, maybe not as massive as third-world countries) of pesticides U.S. farmers use on their crops.

Disease/Insect infestation vs. Unhealthy effects of Pesticides

So far we've all been able to deal with the unhealthy effects - in fact pesticides have saved MILLIONS of lives.

Yeah, I just did a project on pesticide use for APES.

Are they crop dusting to rid of Apes these days?

"I'm tired of these mutha fuggin' Apes, on my mutha fuggin' Grapes!"

Kidding. Cool info; feel free to share more!

-EarlJam

Hahaha
Less than 5% of the pesticides used in crop dusting actually reach the target pest.
A little less than 50% of all crops are lost to pests even WITH the use of pesticides - imagine what it would be without.

It's late, I can't remember too many more random facts...