"Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
5.247...
> How do you effectively remove the was coating applied to regular
> cucumbers?
>
> I usually buy English cucumbers when I want to use them with the skin
> on, and usually peel regular cucumbers because of the wax. It would be
> nice to use them with the skin if I could get all the waxs off.


A lot of cukes have very bitter skin. Baking soda and lemon juice in warm
water and a vegetable brush is the only way I know to get the wax off. I
suppose a quick dunk in boiling water could possibly do the job but I've
never tried it.

Paul

"Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
5.250...
> On Tue 13 Jul 2010 09:23:06p, Paul M. Cook told us...
>
>>
>> "Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
>> 5.247...
>>> How do you effectively remove the was coating applied to regular
>>> cucumbers?
>>>
>>> I usually buy English cucumbers when I want to use them with the
>>> skin on, and usually peel regular cucumbers because of the wax.
>>> It would be nice to use them with the skin if I could get all the
>>> waxs off.
>>
>>
>> A lot of cukes have very bitter skin. Baking soda and lemon juice
>> in warm water and a vegetable brush is the only way I know to get
>> the wax off. I suppose a quick dunk in boiling water could
>> possibly do the job but I've never tried it.
>>
>> Paul
>>
>>
>>
>
> Thanks, Paul. I'll give that a shot. Actually I'm thinking certain
> types of pickles that call for regular cucumbers (with the skin). I
> think the pickling process will eliminate any bitterness that might
> be there.
>

Depends on when they harvest the cukes. Your typical pickling cuke is
harvested at about 4-5 inches but will grow much bigger on the vine. The
bigger the cuke, the more bitter the skin. I am growing 2 varieties of
cukes this year, yellow lemon and red Hmong. Both have very sweet skins if
picked before fully ripe. The RH skins are bitter as hell past about 6
inches in size.

If I had the need for a crate of cukes for pickling I'd fid a farmers market
and get them wax free to start with.

Paul

Paul M. Cook > wrote:

>If I had the need for a crate of cukes for pickling I'd fid a farmers market
>and get them wax free to start with.

For sure.

Life is too short to eat waxed produce.


S.

"Paul M. Cook" wrote:
>
> "Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
> 5.247...
> > How do you effectively remove the was coating applied to regular
> > cucumbers?
> >
> > I usually buy English cucumbers when I want to use them with the skin
> > on, and usually peel regular cucumbers because of the wax. It would be
> > nice to use them with the skin if I could get all the waxs off.
>
> A lot of cukes have very bitter skin. Baking soda and lemon juice in warm
> water and a vegetable brush is the only way I know to get the wax off. I
> suppose a quick dunk in boiling water could possibly do the job but I've
> never tried it.
>
> Paul

Why on earth would you use backing soda (base) and lemon juice (acid)?
They're just going to cancel each other out. The only effect you may
have left is a little abrasiveness. I think scrubbing with a
scothchbrite scrubber sponge would accomplish the same thing.

On Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:43:53 +0000 (UTC),
(Steve Pope) wrote:

>Paul M. Cook > wrote:
>
>>If I had the need for a crate of cukes for pickling I'd fid a farmers market
>>and get them wax free to start with.
>
>For sure.
>
>Life is too short to eat waxed produce.

The wax used to coat produce is perfectly edible... it's a vegetable
product... it's only a problem with cukes for pickling but pickling
cukes (kirbys) are rarely if ever waxed. There is never a reason to
remove produce wax.

On Jul 14, 8:26*am, Christine Dabney > wrote:

> Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. * I think
> they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
> fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. *They are selling
> grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
> want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper. *
>

Is the fruit just hard, or is it actually still green (or yellow, as
appropriate)?

Christine Dabney wrote:
>
> Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. I think
> they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
> fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. They are selling
> grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
> want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper.

A friend of mine told me a lot of roadside
produce stands are actually fakers. They
sell the same fruit and vegetable from
Mexico you can get at a supermarket, but
people who drive out to an agricultural
area think they're getting local stuff.

On Jul 14, 9:55*am, Mark Thorson > wrote:
> Christine Dabney wrote:
>
> > Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. * I think
> > they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
> > fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. *They are selling
> > grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
> > want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper.
>
> A friend of mine told me a lot of roadside
> produce stands are actually fakers. *They
> sell the same fruit and vegetable from
> Mexico you can get at a supermarket, but
> people who drive out to an agricultural
> area think they're getting local stuff.

May be true of roadside stands, but shouldn't be true of a California
Certified Farmers Market.

http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com/index.cfm

spamtrap1888 wrote:
>
> On Jul 14, 9:55 am, Mark Thorson > wrote:
> > Christine Dabney wrote:
> >
> > > Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. I think
> > > they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
> > > fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. They are selling
> > > grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
> > > want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper.
> >
> > A friend of mine told me a lot of roadside
> > produce stands are actually fakers. They
> > sell the same fruit and vegetable from
> > Mexico you can get at a supermarket, but
> > people who drive out to an agricultural
> > area think they're getting local stuff.
>
> May be true of roadside stands, but shouldn't be true of a California
> Certified Farmers Market.
>
> http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com/index.cfm

I suppose that's why they have to certify them.

On Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:26:17 -0700, Christine Dabney
> wrote:

> Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. I think
> they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
> fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. They are selling
> grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
> want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper.

<sigh> I guess Bakersfield is another example of how the good stuff
is "exported" out of California. I remember my ex-SIL telling me
about all the fruit and vegetables she was able to find in NYC (back
when she first moved there and had a good basis of comparison) for a
fraction of the price and twice as nice as we get here.

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Jul 13, 9:23*pm, "Paul M. Cook" > wrote:
> "Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
>
> 5.247...
>
> > How do you effectively remove the was coating applied to regular
> > cucumbers?
>
> > I usually buy English cucumbers when I want to use them with the skin
> > on, and usually peel regular cucumbers because of the wax. *It would be
> > nice to use them with the skin if I could get all the waxs off.
>
> A lot of cukes have very bitter skin. *Baking soda and lemon juice in warm
> water and a vegetable brush is the only way I know to get the wax off.

Can you tell me the ratio of baking soda to lemon juice to water?

Are those vege wash good for removing pesticides?


> suppose a quick dunk in boiling water could possibly do the job but I've
> never tried it.
>
> Paul

On Jul 14, 6:35*am, brooklyn1 > wrote:
> On Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:43:53 +0000 (UTC),
>
> (Steve Pope) wrote:
> >Paul M. Cook > wrote:
>
> >>If I had the need for a crate of cukes for pickling I'd fid a farmers market
> >>and get them wax free to start with.
>
> >For sure. *
>
> >Life is too short to eat waxed produce.
>
> The wax used to coat produce is perfectly edible... it's a vegetable
> product... it's only a problem with cukes for pickling but pickling
> cukes (kirbys) are rarely if ever waxed. *There is never a reason to
> remove produce wax.

OK then.

"Pete C." > wrote in message
ster.com...
>
> "Paul M. Cook" wrote:
>>
>> "Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
>> 5.247...
>> > How do you effectively remove the was coating applied to regular
>> > cucumbers?
>> >
>> > I usually buy English cucumbers when I want to use them with the skin
>> > on, and usually peel regular cucumbers because of the wax. It would be
>> > nice to use them with the skin if I could get all the waxs off.
>>
>> A lot of cukes have very bitter skin. Baking soda and lemon juice in
>> warm
>> water and a vegetable brush is the only way I know to get the wax off. I
>> suppose a quick dunk in boiling water could possibly do the job but I've
>> never tried it.
>>
>> Paul
>
> Why on earth would you use backing soda (base) and lemon juice (acid)?
> They're just going to cancel each other out. The only effect you may
> have left is a little abrasiveness. I think scrubbing with a
> scothchbrite scrubber sponge would accomplish the same thing.

Seems to work well with apples. The scrubber pad would tear the skin I
would think.

Paul

"Christine Dabney" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:43:53 +0000 (UTC),
> (Steve Pope) wrote:
>
>>Paul M. Cook > wrote:
>>
>>>If I had the need for a crate of cukes for pickling I'd fid a farmers
>>>market
>>>and get them wax free to start with.
>>
>>For sure.
>>
>>Life is too short to eat waxed produce.
>
> It is, if you live in an area where there is abundant organic produce
> and markets where you can unwaxed produce. If you don't then you get
> short shrift..and have to make do with what is there, or not eat any
> produce at all.
> Not every place is the bay area...unfortunately...
>
> Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. I think
> they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
> fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. They are selling
> grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
> want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper.
>
> The corn is good though..


Lousy farmer's markets in Bakersfield? I know that urban sprawl has hit
them hard but are all the farms gone?

Paul

"Paul M. Cook" wrote:
>
> "Pete C." > wrote in message
> ster.com...
> >
> > "Paul M. Cook" wrote:
> >>
> >> "Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
> >> 5.247...
> >> > How do you effectively remove the was coating applied to regular
> >> > cucumbers?
> >> >
> >> > I usually buy English cucumbers when I want to use them with the skin
> >> > on, and usually peel regular cucumbers because of the wax. It would be
> >> > nice to use them with the skin if I could get all the waxs off.
> >>
> >> A lot of cukes have very bitter skin. Baking soda and lemon juice in
> >> warm
> >> water and a vegetable brush is the only way I know to get the wax off. I
> >> suppose a quick dunk in boiling water could possibly do the job but I've
> >> never tried it.
> >>
> >> Paul
> >
> > Why on earth would you use backing soda (base) and lemon juice (acid)?
> > They're just going to cancel each other out. The only effect you may
> > have left is a little abrasiveness. I think scrubbing with a
> > scothchbrite scrubber sponge would accomplish the same thing.
>
> Seems to work well with apples. The scrubber pad would tear the skin I
> would think.
>
> Paul

Doubtfull. I use the scotchbrite scrubber on new potatoes without
de-skinning them.

"Manda Ruby" > wrote in message
...
On Jul 13, 9:23 pm, "Paul M. Cook" > wrote:
> "Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
>
> 5.247...
>
> > How do you effectively remove the was coating applied to regular
> > cucumbers?
>
> > I usually buy English cucumbers when I want to use them with the skin
> > on, and usually peel regular cucumbers because of the wax. It would be
> > nice to use them with the skin if I could get all the waxs off.
>
> A lot of cukes have very bitter skin. Baking soda and lemon juice in warm
> water and a vegetable brush is the only way I know to get the wax off.

>Can you tell me the ratio of baking soda to lemon juice to water?

Doesn't matter especially, like 1 tablespoon of each to a small sink level
of water, maybe a gallon.

>Are those vege wash good for removing pesticides?

They should be. Not sure how much better they work than just water.

Paul

On Jul 14, 12:01*pm, "Pete C." > wrote:
> "Paul M. Cook" wrote:
>
> > "Pete C." > wrote in message
> nster.com...
>
> > > "Paul M. Cook" wrote:
>
> > >> "Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
> > . 185.247...
> > >> > How do you effectively remove the was coating applied to regular
> > >> > cucumbers?
>
> > >> > I usually buy English cucumbers when I want to use them with the skin
> > >> > on, and usually peel regular cucumbers because of the wax. *It would be
> > >> > nice to use them with the skin if I could get all the waxs off.
>
> > >> A lot of cukes have very bitter skin. *Baking soda and lemon juice in
> > >> warm
> > >> water and a vegetable brush is the only way I know to get the wax off. *I
> > >> suppose a quick dunk in boiling water could possibly do the job but I've
> > >> never tried it.
>
> > >> Paul
>
> > > Why on earth would you use backing soda (base) and lemon juice (acid)?
> > > They're just going to cancel each other out. The only effect you may
> > > have left is a little abrasiveness. I think scrubbing with a
> > > scothchbrite scrubber sponge would accomplish the same thing.
>
> > Seems to work well with apples. *The scrubber pad would tear the skin I
> > would think.
>
> > Paul
>
> Doubtfull. I use the scotchbrite scrubber on new potatoes without
> de-skinning them.

I never thought of using scotchbrite scrubber on potatoes. I used
brush - it was a small round one with ergonomic handle. I bought 2 in
like 1997 2 gifts to give to my Mom and a sister (just for scrubbing
potatoes) when my oldest sister was going to visit home country but
when I moved to this city, I found out that they're sitting at her
place. So, I took them. They are not available anymore. The handle
is so perfectly fitting; sometimes I use it on wok (as final scrub).

> - Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Paul wrote:

>> Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. I think
>> they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
>> fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. They are selling
>> grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
>> want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper.
>>
>> The corn is good though..
>
>
> Lousy farmer's markets in Bakersfield? I know that urban sprawl has hit
> them hard but are all the farms gone?

Quite a few farms in the area have been affected by the political decision
to cut off agricultural water, a decision which seems to have been made out
of spite. (Google [California dust bowl congress Obama].)

The remaining farms can get better prices (and less loss due to spoilage) if
they sell unripe produce to wholesale markets.

Bob

"Bob Terwilliger" > wrote in message
...
> Paul wrote:
>
>>> Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. I think
>>> they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
>>> fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. They are selling
>>> grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
>>> want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper.
>>>
>>> The corn is good though..
>>
>>
>> Lousy farmer's markets in Bakersfield? I know that urban sprawl has hit
>> them hard but are all the farms gone?
>
> Quite a few farms in the area have been affected by the political decision
> to cut off agricultural water, a decision which seems to have been made
> out of spite. (Google [California dust bowl congress Obama].)

Twasn't political. The water is just not there and the farmers were getting
it way too cheap and using it very wastefully. Also, way too much
development and way too many swimming pools didn't help. It was **** poor
planning. California gets less water from the Colorado River now, too so
that puts more pressure on the internal supplies. Spite it was not, there
is simply not enough water in the state to go around.

Paul

In article >,
Paul M. Cook > wrote:
>
>"Bob Terwilliger" > wrote in message
. ..
>> Paul wrote:
>>
>>>> Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. I think
>>>> they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
>>>> fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. They are selling
>>>> grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
>>>> want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper.
>>>>
>>>> The corn is good though..

>>> Lousy farmer's markets in Bakersfield? I know that urban sprawl has hit
>>> them hard but are all the farms gone?
>>
>> Quite a few farms in the area have been affected by the political decision
>> to cut off agricultural water, a decision which seems to have been made
>> out of spite. (Google [California dust bowl congress Obama].)
>
>Twasn't political. The water is just not there and the farmers were getting
>it way too cheap and using it very wastefully.

It's been going on for a long, long time; well before the current
administration. I saw the signs en route to visiting my grandmother when
she was shifted down to Fraisneaux.

Don't get me started on some of the crop selection.

>Also, way too much
>development and way too many swimming pools didn't help. It was **** poor
>planning. California gets less water from the Colorado River now, too so
>that puts more pressure on the internal supplies. Spite it was not, there
>is simply not enough water in the state to go around.

The three-year Southwest-up-to-Norcal drought didn't help.

Until Chris finds the local equivalent of Pedrick Produce or the Farmer's
Wife, I also suspect that the el primo stuff gets on a truck headed over
the Grapevine and gets sold at LA-area markets for top dollar.

Charlotte







--

Paul wrote:

>>>> Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. I think
>>>> they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
>>>> fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. They are selling
>>>> grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
>>>> want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper.
>>>>
>>>> The corn is good though..
>>>
>>> Lousy farmer's markets in Bakersfield? I know that urban sprawl has hit
>>> them hard but are all the farms gone?
>>
>> Quite a few farms in the area have been affected by the political
>> decision to cut off agricultural water, a decision which seems to have
>> been made out of spite. (Google [California dust bowl congress Obama].)
>
> Twasn't political. The water is just not there and the farmers were
> getting it way too cheap and using it very wastefully. Also, way too much
> development and way too many swimming pools didn't help. It was **** poor
> planning. California gets less water from the Colorado River now, too so
> that puts more pressure on the internal supplies. Spite it was not, there
> is simply not enough water in the state to go around.


The water *is* there. Reservoirs in Northern California are doing just fine.
It is a *completely* political act.

Are you aware of the horrendous impact of desertification on the surrounding
environment?


Bob

"Bob Terwilliger" > wrote in message
...
> Paul wrote:
>
>>>>> Here in Bakersfield, the farmers markets are disappointing. I think
>>>>> they are taking advantage of a lot of people not knowing what ripe
>>>>> fruit looks and smells like.. Not only fruit too.. They are selling
>>>>> grossly underripened fruit...and I keep on telling them that if they
>>>>> want me to buy it, they will have to have it a bit riper.
>>>>>
>>>>> The corn is good though..
>>>>
>>>> Lousy farmer's markets in Bakersfield? I know that urban sprawl has
>>>> hit
>>>> them hard but are all the farms gone?
>>>
>>> Quite a few farms in the area have been affected by the political
>>> decision to cut off agricultural water, a decision which seems to have
>>> been made out of spite. (Google [California dust bowl congress Obama].)
>>
>> Twasn't political. The water is just not there and the farmers were
>> getting it way too cheap and using it very wastefully. Also, way too
>> much
>> development and way too many swimming pools didn't help. It was ****
>> poor
>> planning. California gets less water from the Colorado River now, too so
>> that puts more pressure on the internal supplies. Spite it was not,
>> there
>> is simply not enough water in the state to go around.
>
>
> The water *is* there. Reservoirs in Northern California are doing just
> fine. It is a *completely* political act.

Tell that to my sister to works for the state water management district and
who designed the SWAMP system while at Moss Landing. The water tables are
being depleted at a rapid rate and the Sacramento River delta is being
destroyed because of the water demands in the south. It is a nightmare.
Not to mention we have had some state-wide drought issues for more than 10
years now.

> Are you aware of the horrendous impact of desertification on the
> surrounding environment?

I am. Are you aware of wehat causes it?

Paul

On Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:55:00 -0700, "Paul M. Cook" >
wrote:

> Tell that to my sister to works for the state water management district and
> who designed the SWAMP system while at Moss Landing. The water tables are
> being depleted at a rapid rate and the Sacramento River delta is being
> destroyed because of the water demands in the south. It is a nightmare.
> Not to mention we have had some state-wide drought issues for more than 10
> years now.

Water has been a huge political football practically forever. It has
been ballot fodder more than once. Southern California was taking
water from the Colorado River, then they wanted Northern California's
water too. We don't want our water going to fill pools in more
suburban SoCal developments and the way it's delivered to the Valley
is just plain wasteful. There should be a better way (covered) by now
to get it to the farmers.

--

Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

Paul wrote:

>> The water *is* there. Reservoirs in Northern California are doing just
>> fine. It is a *completely* political act.
>
> Tell that to my sister to works for the state water management district
> and who designed the SWAMP system while at Moss Landing. The water tables
> are being depleted at a rapid rate and the Sacramento River delta is being
> destroyed because of the water demands in the south. It is a nightmare.
> Not to mention we have had some state-wide drought issues for more than 10
> years now.

How old is your information?


>> Are you aware of the horrendous impact of desertification on the
>> surrounding environment?
>
> I am. Are you aware of wehat causes it?

I know what's causing it in the Bakersfield area, which was the area under
discussion.

Bob

"Bob Terwilliger" > wrote in message
...
> Paul wrote:
>
>>> The water *is* there. Reservoirs in Northern California are doing just
>>> fine. It is a *completely* political act.
>>
>> Tell that to my sister to works for the state water management district
>> and who designed the SWAMP system while at Moss Landing. The water
>> tables are being depleted at a rapid rate and the Sacramento River delta
>> is being destroyed because of the water demands in the south. It is a
>> nightmare. Not to mention we have had some state-wide drought issues for
>> more than 10 years now.
>
> How old is your information?

Very. We only this year out of the last 12 have had normal reservoir levels
in the Sierras. That is anything but a trend and is in all likelihood a
fluke when you look at then trend over time. We had one normal winter is
all.

>
>>> Are you aware of the horrendous impact of desertification on the
>>> surrounding environment?
>>
>> I am. Are you aware of wehat causes it?
>
> I know what's causing it in the Bakersfield area, which was the area under
> discussion.

That whole area for decades used the most wasteful water delivery system,
namely flood irrigation which mostly evaporates. They could do it because
they had all that wonderful underground water which is now mostly gone. The
loss of the aquifers is causing the desertification. So now they compete
for the water being piped down into LA from the Sacramento and San Joaquin
rivers. The politics is merely a result of the fact that there is not
enough water to go around.

Paul

On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:31:16 -0700, Paul M. Cook wrote:

> "Bob Terwilliger" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Paul wrote:
>>
>>>> The water *is* there. Reservoirs in Northern California are doing just
>>>> fine. It is a *completely* political act.
>>>
>>> Tell that to my sister to works for the state water management district
>>> and who designed the SWAMP system while at Moss Landing. The water
>>> tables are being depleted at a rapid rate and the Sacramento River delta
>>> is being destroyed because of the water demands in the south. It is a
>>> nightmare. Not to mention we have had some state-wide drought issues for
>>> more than 10 years now.
>>
>> How old is your information?
>
> Very. We only this year out of the last 12 have had normal reservoir levels
> in the Sierras. That is anything but a trend and is in all likelihood a
> fluke when you look at then trend over time. We had one normal winter is
> all.
>
>>
>>>> Are you aware of the horrendous impact of desertification on the
>>>> surrounding environment?
>>>
>>> I am. Are you aware of wehat causes it?
>>
>> I know what's causing it in the Bakersfield area, which was the area under
>> discussion.
>
> That whole area for decades used the most wasteful water delivery system,
> namely flood irrigation which mostly evaporates. They could do it because
> they had all that wonderful underground water which is now mostly gone. The
> loss of the aquifers is causing the desertification. So now they compete
> for the water being piped down into LA from the Sacramento and San Joaquin
> rivers. The politics is merely a result of the fact that there is not
> enough water to go around.
>
> Paul

well, you could say that 95% of politics is allocating resources.

your pal,
blake