That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?

The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, and as we slide
fully into fall, the shift in season means one very important thing
for foodies: It's apple season.

But did you know that the apples on the shelves of your supermarket
might be nearly a year old? Here's why — and why it doesn’t
necessarily mean you should panic.

Lauren Sucher, a spokeswoman for the Food and Drug Administration,
confirmed to TODAY.com that apples on store shelves aren’t always as
fresh as they seem.

“A number of commodities, including apples, may be stored to extend
their availability for marketing,” she said. “In controlled
temperatures and low humidity, apples can be stored for months before
being consumed.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website, freshly
picked apples left untreated will last a few weeks before they turn
soft and rot, so they’re often stored under temperature-controlled
conditions that allow them to last up to 10 months. Once they’re
removed from storage, however, the clock starts ticking again.

“To slow the proverbial sands of time, some fruit distributors treat
their apple bins with a gaseous compound, 1-methylcyclopropene,” the
USDA states. “It extends the fruits’ post-storage quality by blocking
ethylene, a colorless gas that naturally regulates ripening and
aging.”

The same chemical is used to lessen the “de-greening of broccoli,
browning of lettuce, and bitterness in carrots,” according to the
USDA.

But even if this fact is surprising, it shouldn’t be scary. Although
antioxidants and taste may wane over time, experts tell TODAY.com that
such treatments are perfectly safe.

For starters, off-farm facilities that store food for consumption in
the U.S. must register with the FDA, and must comply with related
safety requirements, Sucher says.

Prolonging the life of produce isn’t a new concept, either. “Before
the current technology, people had root cellars to extend the shelf
life and availability of food commodities such as apples,” Sucher
added. “This common, widespread practice allows consumers to eat a
wider variety of produce items for more months of the year now than in
decades past.”

Phil Lempert, a consumerologist who’s also known as the Supermarket
Guru, told TODAY.com via email that while apples can exist in cold
storage for a year before being shipped to supermarkets, their shelf
life once they’re in stores usually is “only days to a couple of
weeks.”

Martin Lindstrom, author of “Truth and Lies About What We Buy,” told
TODAY.com it’s more common for international supermarkets to sell
apples that have been picked more than a year earlier, but that that's
less often the case in the United States.

Of course, not all harvested apples go into long-term storage. Many
are delivered to fresh markets. In addition, not all apples from
storage appear in the produce section. They may be used to make
juices, frozen pies and other types of processed foods, Sucher says.

But even if extending the life of apples is safe, a store-bought apple
may not be the healthiest option.

“A fresh-picked apple is always going to have the optimal nutrient
profile of vitamins and minerals,” said Madelyn Fernstrom, a diet and
nutrition editor for TODAY. “Apples are especially rich in
polyphenols, a type of antioxidant.”

Those antioxidants appear to disappear over time. The website Food
Renegade cites research that claims a year-old apple may retain close
to none of its antioxidant properties.

Fernstrom said there may be truth to the correlation between age and
decreasing antioxidant value, but stated the use of ethylene doesn’t
appear to be the reason for it.

“A recent study suggests that the amount of antioxidants in apples
might drop with extended storage," she added, "because these
antioxidants are found in the peel, not the flesh of the apple.”

Although it’s often difficult to determine which supermarket apples
are freshest until after they’re bought, Lindstrom said some markets
are working to provide better information about each apple. “Some
retailers are now offering ‘footprints,’ telling [shoppers] when it
was grown and when it was picked,” he added.

And if you don’t want to play that kind of guessing game? “Your best
bet is to buy apples seasonally and locally,” Fernstrom said.

http://tinyurl.com/o2ujgo7

On Saturday, October 11, 2014 12:03:58 PM UTC-7, Janet Bostwick wrote:
> That apple you just bought might be a year old - but does it matter?
>


We import fruit from countries with seasons opposite ours, like Chile. That is the main reason we have fruit and apples available in months when they don't grow here. I think most fruit we get isn't stored for very long any more.

Where I shop the bins are labeled as to where the fruits and vegetables come from.

On 11/10/2014 2:16 PM, wrote:
> On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 12:27:54 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags
> > wrote:
>
>> On Saturday, October 11, 2014 12:03:58 PM UTC-7, Janet Bostwick wrote:
>>> That apple you just bought might be a year old - but does it matter?
>>>
>>
>>
>> We import fruit from countries with seasons opposite ours, like Chile. That is the main reason we have fruit and apples available in months when they don't grow here. I think most fruit we get isn't stored for very long any more.
>>
>> Where I shop the bins are labeled as to where the fruits and vegetables come from.
>
> Back in the day we used to pick the apples when ripe in the fall and
> then carefully place them in these chests my grandmother had. The
> many drawers had strips of food to balance the apples so that mostly
> they were surrounded by air and they were not to touch each other so
> one could go bad but not affect the others.
>
> We certainly ate them gradually all through the year until the next
> crop were ripe. So some were definitely a year old.
>
However, some varieties are better "keepers" than others.
Graham

On 10/11/2014 3:27 PM, ImStillMags wrote:
> On Saturday, October 11, 2014 12:03:58 PM UTC-7, Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> That apple you just bought might be a year old - but does it matter?
>>
>
>
> We import fruit from countries with seasons opposite ours, like Chile. That is the main reason we have fruit and apples available in months when they don't grow here. I think most fruit we get isn't stored for very long any more.
>
> Where I shop the bins are labeled as to where the fruits and vegetables come from.
>

In out town we have an apple storage facility. Maybe they don't go to
your store, but they do keep them there for months and ship out during
the year. I go by it a couple of times a week and right now, I see
trucks taking bins into it.

OTOH, we go right to the orchard and the apples we buy are anywhere from
an hour to maybe 36 hours old. I don't buy apples out of season very
often.

On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:03:58 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>
>
>That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
>
>The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, and as we slide
>fully into fall, the shift in season means one very important thing
>for foodies: It's apple season.
>
>But did you know that the apples on the shelves of your supermarket
>might be nearly a year old? Here's why — and why it doesn’t
>necessarily mean you should panic.
>
>Lauren Sucher, a spokeswoman for the Food and Drug Administration,
>confirmed to TODAY.com that apples on store shelves aren’t always as
>fresh as they seem.
>
>“A number of commodities, including apples, may be stored to extend
>their availability for marketing,” she said. “In controlled
>temperatures and low humidity, apples can be stored for months before
>being consumed.”
>
>According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website, freshly
>picked apples left untreated will last a few weeks before they turn
>soft and rot, so they’re often stored under temperature-controlled
>conditions that allow them to last up to 10 months. Once they’re
>removed from storage, however, the clock starts ticking again.
>
>“To slow the proverbial sands of time, some fruit distributors treat
>their apple bins with a gaseous compound, 1-methylcyclopropene,” the
>USDA states. “It extends the fruits’ post-storage quality by blocking
>ethylene, a colorless gas that naturally regulates ripening and
>aging.”
>
>The same chemical is used to lessen the “de-greening of broccoli,
>browning of lettuce, and bitterness in carrots,” according to the
>USDA.
>
>But even if this fact is surprising, it shouldn’t be scary. Although
>antioxidants and taste may wane over time, experts tell TODAY.com that
>such treatments are perfectly safe.
>
>For starters, off-farm facilities that store food for consumption in
>the U.S. must register with the FDA, and must comply with related
>safety requirements, Sucher says.
>
>Prolonging the life of produce isn’t a new concept, either. “Before
>the current technology, people had root cellars to extend the shelf
>life and availability of food commodities such as apples,” Sucher
>added. “This common, widespread practice allows consumers to eat a
>wider variety of produce items for more months of the year now than in
>decades past.”
>
>Phil Lempert, a consumerologist who’s also known as the Supermarket
>Guru, told TODAY.com via email that while apples can exist in cold
>storage for a year before being shipped to supermarkets, their shelf
>life once they’re in stores usually is “only days to a couple of
>weeks.”
>
>Martin Lindstrom, author of “Truth and Lies About What We Buy,” told
>TODAY.com it’s more common for international supermarkets to sell
>apples that have been picked more than a year earlier, but that that's
>less often the case in the United States.
>
>Of course, not all harvested apples go into long-term storage. Many
>are delivered to fresh markets. In addition, not all apples from
>storage appear in the produce section. They may be used to make
>juices, frozen pies and other types of processed foods, Sucher says.
>
>But even if extending the life of apples is safe, a store-bought apple
>may not be the healthiest option.
>
>“A fresh-picked apple is always going to have the optimal nutrient
>profile of vitamins and minerals,” said Madelyn Fernstrom, a diet and
>nutrition editor for TODAY. “Apples are especially rich in
>polyphenols, a type of antioxidant.”
>
>Those antioxidants appear to disappear over time. The website Food
>Renegade cites research that claims a year-old apple may retain close
>to none of its antioxidant properties.
>
>Fernstrom said there may be truth to the correlation between age and
>decreasing antioxidant value, but stated the use of ethylene doesn’t
>appear to be the reason for it.
>
>“A recent study suggests that the amount of antioxidants in apples
>might drop with extended storage," she added, "because these
>antioxidants are found in the peel, not the flesh of the apple.”
>
>Although it’s often difficult to determine which supermarket apples
>are freshest until after they’re bought, Lindstrom said some markets
>are working to provide better information about each apple. “Some
>retailers are now offering ‘footprints,’ telling [shoppers] when it
>was grown and when it was picked,” he added.
>
>And if you don’t want to play that kind of guessing game? “Your best
>bet is to buy apples seasonally and locally,” Fernstrom said.
>
>http://tinyurl.com/o2ujgo7

A lot of BS. Apples are grown in both hemispheres and air frighted .

Lucky friend of mine just picked her own in Sheldon territory. Now, THAT'S FRESH.

I paid a small fortune for navels today from South Africa. Oh, well, I can't take it with me and I refuse to skimp on food as this stage.

On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 17:30:20 -0400, Brooklyn1
> wrote:

>On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:03:58 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
>>
>>The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, and as we slide
>>fully into fall, the shift in season means one very important thing
>>for foodies: It's apple season.
>>
>>But did you know that the apples on the shelves of your supermarket
>>might be nearly a year old? Here's why — and why it doesn’t
>>necessarily mean you should panic.
>>
>>Lauren Sucher, a spokeswoman for the Food and Drug Administration,
>>confirmed to TODAY.com that apples on store shelves aren’t always as
>>fresh as they seem.
>>
>>“A number of commodities, including apples, may be stored to extend
>>their availability for marketing,” she said. “In controlled
>>temperatures and low humidity, apples can be stored for months before
>>being consumed.”
>>
>>According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website, freshly
>>picked apples left untreated will last a few weeks before they turn
>>soft and rot, so they’re often stored under temperature-controlled
>>conditions that allow them to last up to 10 months. Once they’re
>>removed from storage, however, the clock starts ticking again.
>>
>>“To slow the proverbial sands of time, some fruit distributors treat
>>their apple bins with a gaseous compound, 1-methylcyclopropene,” the
>>USDA states. “It extends the fruits’ post-storage quality by blocking
>>ethylene, a colorless gas that naturally regulates ripening and
>>aging.”
>>
>>The same chemical is used to lessen the “de-greening of broccoli,
>>browning of lettuce, and bitterness in carrots,” according to the
>>USDA.
>>
>>But even if this fact is surprising, it shouldn’t be scary. Although
>>antioxidants and taste may wane over time, experts tell TODAY.com that
>>such treatments are perfectly safe.
>>
>>For starters, off-farm facilities that store food for consumption in
>>the U.S. must register with the FDA, and must comply with related
>>safety requirements, Sucher says.
>>
>>Prolonging the life of produce isn’t a new concept, either. “Before
>>the current technology, people had root cellars to extend the shelf
>>life and availability of food commodities such as apples,” Sucher
>>added. “This common, widespread practice allows consumers to eat a
>>wider variety of produce items for more months of the year now than in
>>decades past.”
>>
>>Phil Lempert, a consumerologist who’s also known as the Supermarket
>>Guru, told TODAY.com via email that while apples can exist in cold
>>storage for a year before being shipped to supermarkets, their shelf
>>life once they’re in stores usually is “only days to a couple of
>>weeks.”
>>
>>Martin Lindstrom, author of “Truth and Lies About What We Buy,” told
>>TODAY.com it’s more common for international supermarkets to sell
>>apples that have been picked more than a year earlier, but that that's
>>less often the case in the United States.
>>
>>Of course, not all harvested apples go into long-term storage. Many
>>are delivered to fresh markets. In addition, not all apples from
>>storage appear in the produce section. They may be used to make
>>juices, frozen pies and other types of processed foods, Sucher says.
>>
>>But even if extending the life of apples is safe, a store-bought apple
>>may not be the healthiest option.
>>
>>“A fresh-picked apple is always going to have the optimal nutrient
>>profile of vitamins and minerals,” said Madelyn Fernstrom, a diet and
>>nutrition editor for TODAY. “Apples are especially rich in
>>polyphenols, a type of antioxidant.”
>>
>>Those antioxidants appear to disappear over time. The website Food
>>Renegade cites research that claims a year-old apple may retain close
>>to none of its antioxidant properties.
>>
>>Fernstrom said there may be truth to the correlation between age and
>>decreasing antioxidant value, but stated the use of ethylene doesn’t
>>appear to be the reason for it.
>>
>>“A recent study suggests that the amount of antioxidants in apples
>>might drop with extended storage," she added, "because these
>>antioxidants are found in the peel, not the flesh of the apple.”
>>
>>Although it’s often difficult to determine which supermarket apples
>>are freshest until after they’re bought, Lindstrom said some markets
>>are working to provide better information about each apple. “Some
>>retailers are now offering ‘footprints,’ telling [shoppers] when it
>>was grown and when it was picked,” he added.
>>
>>And if you don’t want to play that kind of guessing game? “Your best
>>bet is to buy apples seasonally and locally,” Fernstrom said.
>>
>>http://tinyurl.com/o2ujgo7
>
>A lot of BS. Apples are grown in both hemispheres and air frighted .

Also freighted. LOL

On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 14:52:16 -0700 (PDT), Kalmia
> wrote:

> Lucky friend of mine just picked her own in Sheldon territory. Now, THAT'S FRESH.

No shortage of fresh picked apples hereabouts... can buy at the
orchards, pick your own, or low prices at local markets.

On Saturday, October 11, 2014 10:30:20 PM UTC+1, Brooklyn1 wrote:


A lot of BS. Apples are grown in both hemispheres and air frighted .
-

You really are an idiot. Have you any idea how much apples would cost in the supermarket if that were the case?

This has been going on for some time and it's not just apples that are stored this way bananas are too :

http://ripening-fruit.com/banana

Cherry

On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 20:00:56 -0400, Brooklyn1
> wrote:

>On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 14:52:16 -0700 (PDT), Kalmia
> wrote:
>
>> Lucky friend of mine just picked her own in Sheldon territory. Now, THAT'S FRESH.
>
>No shortage of fresh picked apples hereabouts... can buy at the
>orchards, pick your own, or low prices at local markets.

It's been done for years and years, Sheldon. Otherwise you couldn't
buy apples in November without them being mealy. Only a tiny orchard
would be able to sell all their apples within a few weeks. They
depend upon income for months for a crop that takes months of care.
I, too, can go direct to the orchard and buy whatever fruit I want.
But I am not dependable for a recurring large purchase. Supermarkets
are.
Janet US

On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:03:58 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>
> That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?

No.


--
Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them.

On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 21:38:33 -0700, sf > wrote:

>On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:03:58 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:
>
>>
>> That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
>
>No.

Really? A fresh apple is infinitely better than an old apple in my
experience. Smells better, tastes better, better texture...

On 10/12/2014 12:44 AM, Jeßus wrote:
> On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 21:38:33 -0700, sf > wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:03:58 -0600, Janet Bostwick
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
>>
>> No.
>
> Really? A fresh apple is infinitely better than an old apple in my
> experience. Smells better, tastes better, better texture...
>
Depends on whether or not you like apples. I know plenty of people in
the NE US who live near orchards. They can go pick them fresh off the
trees. People who don't live near orchards make due with apples that
are shipped. I doubt they are a year old, though.

Jill

On 10/12/2014 12:44 AM, Jeßus wrote:

>>
>>>
>>> That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
>>
>> No.
>
> Really? A fresh apple is infinitely better than an old apple in my
> experience. Smells better, tastes better, better texture...
>

Fresh is always better, but the stored are not so bad. Properly kept,
the can rate an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale.

On Sun, 12 Oct 2014 15:44:51 +1100, Jeßus > wrote:

> On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 21:38:33 -0700, sf > wrote:
>
> >On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:03:58 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> > wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
> >
> >No.
>
> Really? A fresh apple is infinitely better than an old apple in my
> experience. Smells better, tastes better, better texture...

When I buy apples, it is for cooking purposes. I have two apple trees
and (in season) they give me more apples than I ever want to eat raw.
I know there's a difference, but I truly don't care one way or the
other. Variety makes more difference to me than if it's fresh off a
tree or not.

--

Never trust a dog to watch your food.

In article >,
says...
>
> On Saturday, October 11, 2014 10:30:20 PM UTC+1, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
>
> A lot of BS. Apples are grown in both hemispheres and air frighted .
> -
>
> You really are an idiot. Have you any idea how much apples would cost in the supermarket if that were the case?

You're the idiot. He's correct.

Any Brit could hardly fail to know that over 60 % of apples sold in
the UK are imported, as they are all marked with variety name and the
country of origin. New Zealand is one of the major suppliers of the UK
apple market.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/516...ays-importing-
food-disgrace

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-19573885

"The wettest summer for 100 years has wiped out a fifth of Britain's
apple crop but with the UK still importing about two-thirds of the
apples it consumes, farmers have more than just the weather to contend
with.In fact, just two varieties - Gala (28%) and Braeburn (19%) - now
account for almost half of all sales across UK outlets, British growers
say. The supermarkets sell about 85% of the total."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...great-British-
apple-Home-grown-sales-fallen-years-supermarkets-fly-bland-imports-Now-
patriotic-fightback-underway.html

"As British-bred varieties have slumped in popularity, foreign apples
have thrived. Cox?s are in decline while Gala and Braeburn ? developed
in New Zealand ? are booming.Old varieties are losing out to new ones
that are being aggressively branded and marketed. Britain?s fourth most
popular apple, Pink Lady, is even trademarked, meaning British farmers
aren?t allowed to grow it."


Janet UK

In article >,
says...
>
> On 10/12/2014 12:44 AM, Jeßus wrote:
>
> >>
> >>>
> >>> That apple you just bought might be a year old ? but does it matter?
> >>
> >> No.
> >
> > Really? A fresh apple is infinitely better than an old apple in my
> > experience. Smells better, tastes better, better texture...
> >
>
> Fresh is always better, but the stored are not so bad. Properly kept,
> the can rate an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale.

Or not; and those who never tasted fresh will never know the
difference.

My farm neighbout in Scotland married a girl from New Zealand. Her
parents are major apple growers in NZ. When her mother visited Scotland
she went round all the big supermarkets looking for her products, only
to find them on sale under-ripe, not at their best. She was mortified.
For the export market, they pick apples under-ripe to be ripened during
transit and controlled storage. The UK end of the importers were instead
passing the fruit straight to supermarket distribution centres.

When we stayed in NZ I wanted to test this out for myself and she
was right. We could not believe the difference in flavour and juiciness
of the NZ apple varieties we bought and ate there, compared with the
same varieties of imported NZ apples we buy and eat at home in Scotland.
NZ running with juice, flavour packed kiwi fruit, sold from the vine/
farm in NZ, are barely recognisable as the same NX kiwi fruit we buy
imported to the UK.

In the same way, Scottish strawberries/raspberries are picked under-
ripe for export (so they travel better). If you happen to live near the
growers you can eat the real thing picked at perfection, and you won't
be interested in eating winter imports from Spain, tasteless as
cardboard.

Many Brits have never picked a perfectly ripe fresh orange straight
from the tree (or a pineapple, avocado, banana) and sadly an ever
decreasing number have never picked a perfect British apple pear or plum
straight from a tree either. Those who don't know any better than
imported assume the second rate is as good as it gets.

Janet UK

On 10/12/2014 9:02 AM, Janet wrote:

>
> Many Brits have never picked a perfectly ripe fresh orange straight
> from the tree (or a pineapple, avocado, banana) and sadly an ever
> decreasing number have never picked a perfect British apple pear or plum
> straight from a tree either. Those who don't know any better than
> imported assume the second rate is as good as it gets.
>
> Janet UK

It is not just Brits. It is mostly anyone under about 40 has never had
true vine ripened fruits and veggies Yet we buy peaches in February so
the market will supply them.

Some of the fruits I enjoyed years ago I rarely buy today because of the
way they are picked and handled and the lack of flavor. Grapes are not
as sweet, bananas have little taste and seedless watermelons are bland.

On 2014-10-12 12:38 AM, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:03:58 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> > wrote:
>
>>
>> That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
>
> No.
>
>

Not if you put enough nutmeg on it. ;-)
Most apples keep well and do not have to be used fresh off the tree, but
some varieties keep much longer than others. Aside from the risk of
rotting, most apples start to get mealy with age.

On 2014-10-12 10:43 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

> It is not just Brits. It is mostly anyone under about 40 has never had
> true vine ripened fruits and veggies Yet we buy peaches in February so
> the market will supply them.
>
> Some of the fruits I enjoyed years ago I rarely buy today because of the
> way they are picked and handled and the lack of flavor. Grapes are not
> as sweet, bananas have little taste and seedless watermelons are bland.
>


All my life I have lived in areas with ready access to fresh picked
fruit. While imported strawberries and asparagus are relatively cheap
these days, and much better than they used to be, they just don't
compare to fresh local berries. There are some fruits that just don't
last. Sour cherries should be eaten or at least processed within hours
of picking. Some pears and apples actually improve a little with the
proper storage, but they should be eaten within a few months.

Dave Smith wrote:
>sf wrote:
>>Janet Bostwick wrote:
>>
>>> That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
>>
>> No.
>
>Not if you put enough nutmeg on it. ;-)
>Most apples keep well and do not have to be used fresh off the tree, but
>some varieties keep much longer than others. Aside from the risk of
>rotting, most apples start to get mealy with age.

Apples at the market out of season are waxed, refrigerated they can
keep 2-3 months. Off the tree refrigerated with no wax they'd be
doing well to keep one month. The more tart apples, like Granny
Smiths, keep a bit longer. Naturally as with any produce the sooner
it's consumed the better it will taste... apples a week after
harvested won't be nearly as good as just picked... people who pick at
the local orchards eat so many apples that soon as they get home they
head for the terlit, if they can make it.

On Sun, 12 Oct 2014 10:43:57 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>On 10/12/2014 9:02 AM, Janet wrote:
>
>>
>> Many Brits have never picked a perfectly ripe fresh orange straight
>> from the tree (or a pineapple, avocado, banana) and sadly an ever
>> decreasing number have never picked a perfect British apple pear or plum
>> straight from a tree either. Those who don't know any better than
>> imported assume the second rate is as good as it gets.
>>
>> Janet UK
>
>It is not just Brits. It is mostly anyone under about 40 has never had
>true vine ripened fruits and veggies Yet we buy peaches in February so
>the market will supply them.
>
>Some of the fruits I enjoyed years ago I rarely buy today because of the
>way they are picked and handled and the lack of flavor. Grapes are not
>as sweet, bananas have little taste and seedless watermelons are bland.

Um, bananas never come into the US ripe, they are always shipped full
green... but even in the tropics for local use they are harvested
green. Once they begin to ripen at the plantation by morning the
jungle critters will get them all, just before daybreak the large
tropical birds will devour them. Bananas don't travel well once they
begin to ripen, they bruise easily. Bananas ripen well off the plant,
they will develop full flavor. But not pineapple, once picked that's
it, they do not ripen off the plant. I never buy fresh pineapple at
market, they are green and taste nothing like plantation ripened....
better to buy canned.

In article >, gravesend10
@verizon.net says...
>
> Dave Smith wrote:
> >sf wrote:
> >>Janet Bostwick wrote:
> >>
> >>> That apple you just bought might be a year old ? but does it matter?
> >>
> >> No.
> >
> >Not if you put enough nutmeg on it. ;-)
> >Most apples keep well and do not have to be used fresh off the tree, but
> >some varieties keep much longer than others. Aside from the risk of
> >rotting, most apples start to get mealy with age.
>
> Apples at the market out of season are waxed, refrigerated they can
> keep 2-3 months. Off the tree refrigerated with no wax they'd be
> doing well to keep one month. The more tart apples, like Granny
> Smiths, keep a bit longer. Naturally as with any produce the sooner
> it's consumed the better it will taste... apples a week after
> harvested won't be nearly as good as just picked... people who pick at
> the local orchards eat so many apples that soon as they get home they
> head for the terlit, if they can make it.

In my teens I lived in a big fruit-picking area and picked for pay in
summer. I remember one farmer where the pickers all lived in (sleeping
bags in barn) to pick his strawberries. On the first day he said "These
are the best strawberries you will ever taste; eat as many as you
like".. we pigged out all day long. That night he came to the barn
with.. a giant market tray of strawberries to go with our supper. And
the next night.
By day three nobody wanted to eat another strawberries for a vey long
time.....
Janet UK

On Sun, 12 Oct 2014 11:37:50 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2014-10-12 10:43 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>
>> It is not just Brits. It is mostly anyone under about 40 has never had
>> true vine ripened fruits and veggies Yet we buy peaches in February so
>> the market will supply them.
>>
>> Some of the fruits I enjoyed years ago I rarely buy today because of the
>> way they are picked and handled and the lack of flavor. Grapes are not
>> as sweet, bananas have little taste and seedless watermelons are bland.
>>
>
>
>All my life I have lived in areas with ready access to fresh picked
>fruit. While imported strawberries and asparagus are relatively cheap
>these days, and much better than they used to be, they just don't
>compare to fresh local berries. There are some fruits that just don't
>last. Sour cherries should be eaten or at least processed within hours
>of picking. Some pears and apples actually improve a little with the
>proper storage, but they should be eaten within a few months.

Pears are always harvested green... they are one of the few fruits
that ripen from the inside out. If allowed to ripen on the tree their
weight will pull them from the stem and once they hit the ground a
ripe pear will splatter. The best way to test a pear is to pull on
its stem, it it pulls out the pear is ripe... I pull on the stem with
my teeth like a grenade.

On 2014-10-12 1:00 PM, Janet wrote:

>
> In my teens I lived in a big fruit-picking area and picked for pay in
> summer. I remember one farmer where the pickers all lived in (sleeping
> bags in barn) to pick his strawberries. On the first day he said "These
> are the best strawberries you will ever taste; eat as many as you
> like".. we pigged out all day long. That night he came to the barn
> with.. a giant market tray of strawberries to go with our supper. And
> the next night.
> By day three nobody wanted to eat another strawberries for a vey long
> time.....


Pay? Yeah, right. It is more like slave labour. I lasted about 5 hours
picking strawberries. I worked like made and it worked out to about 40
cents per hour. It might have been 50 cents per hour if I had not eaten
so many. It was years before I ate strawberries again.

I tried fruit picking again a few years later.... pears. We started off
well, but then the farmer came along and wanted us to go back and pick
the trees bare. That meant having to move the ladder and climb up to
get one lonely pear, then climb down, move the ladder and climb back up
for another. I would not have minded so much if I had been paid by the
hour, but we were getting paid by the bushel, and it takes a long time
to fill a bushel basket at that rate.

On Sunday, October 12, 2014 1:14:29 PM UTC+1, Janet wrote:
> In article >,
says...
On Saturday, October 11, 2014 10:30:20 PM UTC+1, Brooklyn1 wrote:

A lot of BS. Apples are grown in both hemispheres and air frighted .
-

You really are an idiot. Have you any idea how much apples would cost in the supermarket if that were the case?
-

You're the idiot. He's correct.

Any Brit could hardly fail to know that over 60 % of apples sold in the UK are imported, as they are all marked with variety name and the country of origin. New Zealand is one of the major suppliers of the UK apple market.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/516...-food-disgrace

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-19573885

"The wettest summer for 100 years has wiped out a fifth of Britain's apple crop but with the UK still importing about two-thirds of the apples it consumes, farmers have more than just the weather to contend with.In fact, just two varieties - Gala (28%) and Braeburn (19%) - now account for almost half of all sales across UK outlets, British growers say. The supermarkets sell about 85% of the total."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...d-imports-Now-
patriotic-fightback-underway.html

"As British-bred varieties have slumped in popularity, foreign apples have thrived. Cox?s are in decline while Gala and Braeburn ? developed in New Zealand ? are booming.Old varieties are losing out to new ones that are being aggressively branded and marketed. Britain?s fourth most popular apple, Pink Lady, is even trademarked, meaning British farmers aren?t allowed to grow it."

Janet UK
-

No, you are the idiot. You didn't get anywhere having a go at me last time so your having another go. You are so obvious!

For all of your so-called protestations you have only been able to cite New Zealand as flying in apples and just as I said they are bloody expensive. A family with 2 or 3 kids cannot afford them. Those apples are a treat in many households.

Very little fruit is flown into the UK, usually the more exotic fruits and they are flown in small quantities. As I said in the previous paragraph they are expensive and are bought as the occasional treat.

The majority of foreign fruits etc., are shipped in quantity and are therefore cheaper to buy and so we eat more of them. Fruits such as bananas, oranges, grapfruit, lemons, melons and apples.

Cherry

On Sun, 12 Oct 2014 01:01:45 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

>On 10/12/2014 12:44 AM, Jeßus wrote:
>> On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 21:38:33 -0700, sf > wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:03:58 -0600, Janet Bostwick
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
>>>
>>> No.
>>
>> Really? A fresh apple is infinitely better than an old apple in my
>> experience. Smells better, tastes better, better texture...
>>
>Depends on whether or not you like apples. I know plenty of people in
>the NE US who live near orchards. They can go pick them fresh off the
>trees. People who don't live near orchards make due with apples that
>are shipped.

Yeah, they have no choice.

>I doubt they are a year old, though.

I have some of own apples still in the fridge picked in March (I
think). Quite mealy now compared to what they were. I wouldn't be
terribly surprised if some commercial apples are a year old.

On Sun, 12 Oct 2014 01:16:59 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>On 10/12/2014 12:44 AM, Jeßus wrote:
>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
>>>
>>> No.
>>
>> Really? A fresh apple is infinitely better than an old apple in my
>> experience. Smells better, tastes better, better texture...
>>
>
>Fresh is always better, but the stored are not so bad. Properly kept,
>the can rate an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale.

Yep, they might not have the delicate fragrance and subtleties of
flavour, but they're still delicious.

On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 23:40:29 -0700, sf > wrote:

>On Sun, 12 Oct 2014 15:44:51 +1100, Jeßus > wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 21:38:33 -0700, sf > wrote:
>>
>> >On Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:03:58 -0600, Janet Bostwick
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> That apple you just bought might be a year old – but does it matter?
>> >
>> >No.
>>
>> Really? A fresh apple is infinitely better than an old apple in my
>> experience. Smells better, tastes better, better texture...
>
>When I buy apples, it is for cooking purposes. I have two apple trees
>and (in season) they give me more apples than I ever want to eat raw.
>I know there's a difference, but I truly don't care one way or the
>other. Variety makes more difference to me than if it's fresh off a
>tree or not.

Both matter to me.

On Sun, 12 Oct 2014 14:02:08 +0100, Janet > wrote:

>In article >,
>says...
>>
>> Fresh is always better, but the stored are not so bad. Properly kept,
>> the can rate an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale.
>
> Or not; and those who never tasted fresh will never know the
>difference.

True. You don't get that beautiful and delicate fragrance and flavour
with anything but fresh apples - some varieties are a lot better than
others in that regard too. If someone hasn't experienced that, then
they wouldn't know what I'm talking about.

> My farm neighbout in Scotland married a girl from New Zealand. Her
>parents are major apple growers in NZ. When her mother visited Scotland
>she went round all the big supermarkets looking for her products, only
>to find them on sale under-ripe, not at their best. She was mortified.
> For the export market, they pick apples under-ripe to be ripened during
>transit and controlled storage. The UK end of the importers were instead
>passing the fruit straight to supermarket distribution centres.
>
> When we stayed in NZ I wanted to test this out for myself and she
>was right. We could not believe the difference in flavour and juiciness
>of the NZ apple varieties we bought and ate there, compared with the
>same varieties of imported NZ apples we buy and eat at home in Scotland.
>NZ running with juice, flavour packed kiwi fruit, sold from the vine/
>farm in NZ, are barely recognisable as the same NX kiwi fruit we buy
>imported to the UK.
>
> In the same way, Scottish strawberries/raspberries are picked under-
>ripe for export (so they travel better). If you happen to live near the
>growers you can eat the real thing picked at perfection, and you won't
>be interested in eating winter imports from Spain, tasteless as
>cardboard.
>
> Many Brits have never picked a perfectly ripe fresh orange straight
>from the tree (or a pineapple, avocado, banana) and sadly an ever
>decreasing number have never picked a perfect British apple pear or plum
>straight from a tree either. Those who don't know any better than
>imported assume the second rate is as good as it gets.

Its sad how compromised a lot of 'fresh' food is.