sf wrote on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:25:01 -0800:

>> I have a theory that you have to live where the fruit is
>> grown.

> How true. But no western apple can beat midwestern apples of
> any type, IMO - juicy, crisp... sweet/sour. It has something
> to do with the cold midwest winters that drives tree sap down
> to the roots.

>> I've
>> hardly ever had a fresh apricot in the Eastern US that was
>> worth eating. Come to think of it, I prefer dried apricots
>> too :-)

> True dat. They are grown here. In fact, I've eaten them
> fresh off the tree. YUM! Dried are fine out of season, but
> during the *short* fresh season, I like mine fresh.

Oh! I'm not going to maintain that for *all* fruits. Apples from all
over the US can be good and, of course, they don't grow bananas, lemons,
grapefruits or oranges much where I live tho' some bananas did ripen on
the DC Mall. Imported raspberries, blackberries and blueberries are good
fresh and I appreciate strawberries from Chile in the winter. Of course,
a good part of the heritage of the regular strawberry is Chilean. They
grow better peaches in Maryland than Georgia, IMHO but it is interesting
to buy imported peaches in the summer while waiting for the local ones.
You can sometimes get properly ripened mangoes here, especially the
yellow skinned ones.

Dried pears are not a fruit that I like much but it's hard to get
properly ripened pears here. I have to admit the Harry and David do
sell good ones even if they are expensive.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not