Samascott Orchards posted signs yesterday to teach greenmarket shoppers about their dappled apples. A hail storm hit Kinderhook, NY this spring and cut dimples and scars into their early harvest apples.
While we appreciate pied beauty around here, we know most supermarkets won't buy imperfect fruits. "You cannot sell a blemished apple in the supermarket, but you can sell a tasteless one provided it is shiny, smooth, even, uniform and bright," wrote Elspeth Huxley.
The Albany Times Union reports that hail and other weather conditions didn't have a large impact on the state apple crop. The New York Apple Association projects the state's farmers will harvest 29.5 million bushel of apples this fall.
In the UK, apple growers are struggling with more serious hail damage. We were interested to learn that British retailer Waitrose committed to buying the spotted apples at a fair price and teaching their customers about this phenomenon.
Help a farmer, buy a hail-ed apple.
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
good post!
view guido's profile
I'm really starting to realize just how little appearance means when you're buying produce. A friend of mine gave me a tiny, kind of ugly little peach recently--it was the most delicious peach I'd ever eaten. I bought a huge, lovely-looking peach the next day at the grocery store, only to find on the first bite that it had no taste. I'm not kidding, none. It was like eating watery styrofoam.
view Jim of ChewOnThat's profile
I always buy blemished fruit and veggies because I feel sorry for them. I know, I need therapy.
view priscilla's profile