Forums > Fruity Discussion
chilled fruit ...
raspberry:
one of the changes i've noticed at my supermarket is that a lot of fruit is now chilled to extend shelf life. i'm wondering what this is doing in terms of nutritional value and ability to ripen. it seems to me that such fruit has a tendancy to bruise and rot more easily. any thoughts???
Shelah:
Dear raspberry,
I have noticed the same thing! I believe that fruit that requires ripening cannot do so properly after being kept chilled for any length of time.
One of the supermarkets in my area has been trying to carry more organic fruit, but because it doesn't sell as quickly, they keep all of it highly chilled, even Tomatoes and Peaches :( I have told them that I would buy more if they didn't keep them chilled, but I suppose my purchases aren't enough to tip the scale for them.
It does seem such a shame.
With love,
Shelah
raspberry:
hi Shelah,
sadly, i don't have much choice. it's eat the chilled stuff or starve! the organic fruit has become so chronic that i no longer eat any. it's just paying a premium for inferior quality. i used to eat all organic where i could. i do wonder how much more pesticide i'm consuming as a result. i can't help thinking that a major reason for my difficulty getting back into the fruit tree is because the fruit i can get just isn't good enough anymore.
raspberry.
raspberry:
as i've given up on the organic fruit in my supermarket, it struck me that i might revisit buying fruit from one of the few fruit and vegs shops in my city. the reason that i hadn't done this previously is that it's invariably non-organic in order to compete on cost. but the chilling issue has added another dimension to this choice as their fruit doesn't appear to be chilled and there is quite a good choice too.
Shelah:
Dear raspberry,
If you don't mind me asking, where do you live?
I am in South Florida where I'm fortunate to find some very nice fruit much of the year, but there are still some lessons I had to learn to feel my best.
I have found it best to stay away from many fruits when they are no longer in season in the USA, especially Melons it seems! So when people tell me, in January, "I can't seem to get a tasty Cantaloupe.", I say, "Just wait until the summer!" So many shoppers expect to have every fruit available every day of the year and be perfectly ripe and tasty :o
Even with the US grown, as the season passes its peak, I notice the flavor diminishing -- happening right now with Honeydews -- I take my cue and look for another fruit to enjoy.
I am sure you are up on all this, but it took me some time at the beginning to really eat with the seasons and it made a huge difference, in both my enjoyment of a fruit diet as well as my health. The latter, I believe, is because only properly ripened fruit can provide the nutrients we need. I've noticed that when I continue to eat Honeydew, for example, when the season is waning (or too early in the season), they always taste more acidic -- I can feel it on my tongue and at the back of my throat. I think that they are picked too early and aside from being devoid of nutrients, they can really do a number on one's teeth if not careful!
At this time of year, I am enjoying wonderful organic California Grapes and the first of the new US crop of organic MacIntosh and Gala Apples smitten.gif, both of which are very reasonably priced.
Whenever my budget is tight I look for local Bananas, but even here, their availability is spotty. Do you have a Whole Foods Market near you, or something like it? I don't do well on regular Cavendish Bananas, even organic ones, except for the ones WFM sells under the Brand name "Earth University". They are Fair Trade and for some reason taste wonderful and I seem to assimilate them well. They sell for only 69 cents a pound -- so nice on the pocket book ;)d
I know that you are trying to find your way back to a fruit diet and all the benefits it holds. I may have been rambling a bit, but I hope that you can find some of it helpful.
With love,
Shelah <3 <3 <3
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