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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] quality produce in California? (or elsewhere)

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  • From: road's end farm <organic101 AT linkny.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] quality produce in California? (or elsewhere)
  • Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:22:57 -0400

Some things ship well. Others don't.

It's possible to ship good apples, for instance; or potatoes; or onions (though it isn't always good ones that are shipped, of course). Not good strawberries or tomatoes, though. The ones with really good flavor have tender skins and soft texture, and don't travel well at all. I have trouble getting my best tomatoes twelve miles to market without bruising them.

Fruit "the best the customers ever had" may or may not be much of a standard, depending on what they're used to eating. As much of the fruit and vegetables in most grocery stores doesn't taste like anything at all, almost any flavor is an improvement. The first peach I ever had fresh off the tree was a total revelation to me.

Bill Bradshaw, about the mangos -- I had someone here one year from India. She said one thing she missed was mangos. I said, we can buy you some. She said, don't bother, I've tried; you can't find a good one in the stores here. The ones in the stores here tasted pretty good to me; but I've never had a fresh mango, and of course she had. So my standard for comparison was apparently not much.

If I ever get to India, I'm definitely going to get mangoes --

-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale


On Sep 17, 2007, at 8:57 PM, Home Grown Kansas! wrote:

You are wrong.  We receive fruit from Idaho, directly from the growers and it is great.  The customers love it and they buy a lot of it.  Many commenting that is the best they have ever had.  Granted, I like to think it would be better locally grown, but you are overstating your point.  No fruit harvested in Kansas this year due to a late freeze.  Customers are pleased to have good fruit.--elzie - wichita, ks

Bill Shoemaker <wshoemak AT inil.com> wrote:> > >  I like good organic > food where ever it comes from and I counts my self lucky to get it. am also > lucky and glad to be able to ship it. thanks > >
The problem with shipping isn't just the fuel that's used. The handling necessitates harvesting prior to full maturity or the product breaks down before the consumer can get it. Then it isn't fully developed (mature), lacking flavor and nutritional quality. On top of that, despite all proper post-harvest protocols, the product respires away some of the modest amount of goodness left in it. Why should consumers choose product that is 5-7 days old when they can have fully matured, tastier, healthier product that was picked within the last 24 hours? Shipping has it's place, but it shouldn't DISplace healthier, tastier product that's locally grown, supporting the local economy and community.
Bill

William H. Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign


On Sep 17, 2007, at 9:11 PM, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

Bill, I agree with you, but at the same time I bet you are having a hard time growing mangos in Illinois. So some things need to be shipped.




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