primitives bothered by wet vegetables

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x81136

Oh my.

Paper Roses  (1000+ posts)      Fri Oct-08-10 07:45 AM
THE CHRONICALLY HELPLESS PRIMITIVE
Original message

Speaking of grocery stores, does this bother you?

Since my food budget had become very restricted, I shop more carefully and have eliminated a lot of meats and of course all of the junk food. I try to be creative with veggies and occasional chicken.

My grocery store and others in the area find it to their advantage to spray the veggies every few minutes with water.

It bugs me to reach for a head of lettuce and get an arm wash in the process.

Worse than that minor annoyance, I resent paying for water. Much of what I buy is sold by the pound. I am paying for water. When I place the item in my carriage, I upside-down the bag so some of the water will drip out.

I know this is not a good idea but it is all I can think of the get rid of the water. I resent paying for this useless and self-serving procedure by the stores. It is meant to keep the greens looking greener(and fresher-ha) but they rot quicker in your refrig.

After shopping, I have to spread out my veggie purchases and pat them down before bagging them.

I use the 'green bags' and have been satisfied with them. they last forever with a quick wash after use. I do put a paper towel in the bag to absorb condensation.

Maybe I'm just getting cranky in in my old age but I feel strongly about this spraying procedure. It is an annoying waste.

yellerpup  (1000+ posts)        Fri Oct-08-10 08:06 AM
Response to Original message
 
1. I agree that the grocers who use the spray cause a lot of spoilage and sometimes I think they do it on purpose. Our grocer used to do that constantly but because of many consumer complaints, I haven't seen it for several months.

I complained of it every time I got a shower myself and would shake out and pour out excess water on the floor, then call for a clean up on the veggie aisle. (they get tired of that; they're liable if anyone slips and falls) Don't keep your complaints inside, speak up and make a mess if you have to. They'll learn.

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Fri Oct-08-10 10:41 AM
THE DEFROCKED WARPED PRIMITIVE, #09 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Original message

2. I love the sprayers here but I live in NM, where the air is not just dry, it's extremely arid. An open bag of chips will stay crisp. Cookies that aren't in an air tight container will turn into hockey pucks overnight. Veggies in the market that aren't misted will dry up within hours.

They used to have a guy with a hose come around every half hour or so and spray them. The misters are a lot neater and do a better job.

I doubt the misters are necessary in more humid climates, especially in winter, but they do a great job here.

The empressof all   (1000+ posts)        Fri Oct-08-10 10:53 AM
THE IMPERIOUS PRIMITIVE, WHO DOESN'T LIKE US
Response to Original message

3. I don't mind the spray

They do it to make the veggies look all clean and fresh. I shake all the water off that I can before I bag it. You also can usually get paper towels from the produce guy or at the meat counter to dry them off before you bag them. I go a little nuts with the veggies like Cauliflower that are plastic wrapped at the factory level. I just don't think it's necessary. My veggie/fruit stand is closing soon for winter...so it's back to grocery store veggies for me....

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Fri Oct-08-10 11:48 PM
THE DEFROCKED WARPED PRIMITIVE, #09 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Reply #3

8. It dries in a flash here so if it's spraying when I walk up, I just shift my attention to the unsprayed things like taters and onions and the stuff is nearly dry when I get to it.

Denninmi  (156 posts)      Fri Oct-08-10 11:54 AM
Response to Original message
 
4. Yes, it does bother me.

For all of the reasons you stated. And, I'm pretty sure these dumb things hate me, and go off intentionally when I'm reaching into the display.

You would think it would be pretty easy to at least put a heat detector or motion sensor on these systems so they don't spray the customers along with the produce.

I try to grow as much of my own food as is possible. Unfortunately, in a harsh climate, I still have to buy things like lettuce and cucumbers for at least part of the year.

Aside from the waste issue, I wonder if there are any health issues to this -- how clean is that water, and what kind of pathogens are being spread -- for one thing, if it weren't well maintained, such a system could easily become contaminated with Legionella, an organism which is known to live in poorly maintained water systems and is spread when it is put into the air by things like evaporators and misters.

Jazzgirl  (1000+ posts)      Fri Oct-08-10 08:33 PM
Response to Reply #4
 
7. I agree. It seems like whenever I do go to the grocery store and get veggies the darn thing sees me coming and says "ooh, ooh, here comes Jazzgirl. It must be time to spray!"

elleng  (1000+ posts)        Fri Oct-08-10 12:11 PM
THE PRIMITIVE WHO'S A WHOLE GENERATION OLDER THAN WHAT franksolich THOUGHT SHE WAS
Response to Original message
 
5. Doesn't bother me, esp if keeps stuff fresher, BUT try to NOT pay for the water, I also upside-down the bag/item.

Of course, 'dry' at home before storage, to avoid rot.

tigereye  (1000+ posts)        Fri Oct-08-10 07:06 PM
Response to Original message
 
6. they tell me it keeps the produce fresher, but it is annoying
 
Do you really feel like you are paying that much extra for water? I never thought about that cost. I'd be curious to know how much that costs compared to other grocery overhead costs...

GoCubsGo  (1000+ posts)      Sat Oct-09-10 07:40 PM
Response to Original message

9. I don't like them either.

And, for all the reasons you state--especially the one about adding water weight. That is the real reason they spray produce. The water doesn't really keep any of it fresher. Aldi doesn't have those sprayers, and their produce is just as fresh as that in the stores that have them. I will choose the produce from the back of the bin, where the water doesn't hit. And, if it's something that doesn't need a bag, like a head of broccoli, or a bunch of leeks that are banded together, I don't use a bag.

Only two things annoy me more. One is seeing people waste bags on things that don't need a bag. I've seen people put a single onion in a bag, and I've seen them place an unseparated bunch of bananas in a bag. The other is that they blast the damn AC in the summer. I have to bring a sweater to shop, despite it being near 100 degrees outside. Part of that is the open refrigerators in the meat, dairy, and produce departments. They really should consider putting doors on them, like they do with the freezers. It would save a ton on the electric bill, and, therefore, on our groceries.

madmax  (1000+ posts)      Sun Oct-10-10 01:32 AM
THE OVERWEIGHT PRIMITIVE
Response to Original message

10. Most definately

Harris Teeter here does that and it's so damn annoying. Waste of a valuable resource and you brought up a point that hadn't occured to me. We are paying for water as added weight! Now, I'm really annoyed and to boot their prices are higher than Lowes.

There is a WalMart not 5 minutes from me which in the past I never, ever shopped. Times being what they are I've caved a little. They do have good produce which they clain is locally grown.

You're not cranky

[Evil_Conservative]

So.....

They are complaining about the veggies being watered to stay fresh?  Do they want rotten food so they can complain how the evil corporations are trying to poison them?

[blitzkrieg_17]

Our Finast and Stop&Shop used to do this. And that was probably their first shower in weeks.

[BlueStateSaint]

So.....

They are complaining about the veggies being watered to stay fresh?  Do they want rotten food so they can complain how the evil corporations are trying to poison them?

It would seem that way, Jess.

[JohnnyReb]

JohnnyReb remembers getting up way before daylight and picking string beans, Lima beans, etc. with his father and taking a truck load to the farmers market in the state capitol. As the day worn on the temperature would be over 100 degrees and the vegetables would start to wilt....and so would little Johnny....little Johnny would want a cold drink so bad....or just some ice water would be nice.....but oh no, those vegetables needed some ice and ice water sprinkled on them to freshen them up so people would buy them ..."Dammit boy! Don't waste that cold water.".....little Johnny could wait until he got home.

Bitch, bitch, bitch, that's all DUmmies do. "Your produce isn't fresh enough." "There's wet water on my produce." "You got my environmentally friendly bag wet."....How 'bout I just whack you up side the head with this ear of corn and then we'll see if it looks any fresher to you.....and if it feels drier. 

[Ballygrl]

When I place the item in my carriage, I upside-down the bag so some of the water will drip out.

So you let the water drip on the floor even though a customer could fall from slipping on the water?

[AprilRazz]

Leave it to a DUmmy to complain about getting a shower.

My local grocery store has a nifty little thunder audio warning before the sprayers start.

[Evil_Conservative]

Leave it to a DUmmy to complain about getting a shower.

My local grocery store has a nifty little thunder audio warning before the sprayers start.

Our stores do that too. 

I could have sworn there was a store that used to make their produce section sound like a jungle when their "rain storm" was about to happen, too.

[Chris_]

Hey, DUmmy... try a salad spinner.  They work.

[dandi]

Our stores do that too. 

I could have sworn there was a store that used to make their produce section sound like a jungle when their "rain storm" was about to happen, too.

Our Winn-Dixie store was like that. Thunder sounds would come through speakers right before the misting started.

We never had a problem with "rot" as long as we kept the bag open to air and in the vegetable drawer of the fridge. I'd rather pay for the extra half-ounce of water weight than have to cull out stuff that was wilted due to dryness. Stupid DUmmies.

[crockspot]

Hey DUmmy, to add insult to injury, the paper towel you put in the bag probably costs more than what you paid for the water. 

[true_blood]

Leave it to a DUmmy to complain about getting a shower.

My local grocery store has a nifty little thunder audio warning before the sprayers start.

HA HA!! Hippies hate water.

[vesta111]

No way will I put any veges. in my cart unbagged.

I have seen people put baby's into the carts with leaking diapers, people put fresh meet that may be leaking blood out the side unnoticed.

How often do the stores hot power wash their carts? 

  Then the gross handle one has to hold on to to push the darn things, people sneeze on them, wipe their butts in the restrooms, walk out without washing their hands and grab the handle of their shopping cart. Who is the next lucky person to use that cart.?

The more water the better for veges. I am going to wash and dry them anyway when I get home, no wonder people become ill from tomatoes, lettuce and fresh fruit that has been picked over by customers with contagious diseases.

By the way the cashiers that handle money all day, they handle your food to scan the price.

Whole different world out there, does not mean we must run about with a mask and gloves on, YET.  But on the MTA in Boston at the medical centers you can tell who workes in medical care, they put on those thin clear gloves before holding onto the bars or the over head straps.

[true_blood]

No way will I put any veges. in my cart unbagged.

I have seen people put baby's into the carts with leaking diapers, people put fresh meet that may be leaking blood out the side unnoticed.

How often do the stores hot power wash their carts?

Very true. Which is why I always wash my food before ingesting.

[debk]

No way will I put any veges. in my cart unbagged.

I have seen people put baby's into the carts with leaking diapers, people put fresh meet that may be leaking blood out the side unnoticed.

How often do the stores hot power wash their carts? 

  Then the gross handle one has to hold on to to push the darn things, people sneeze on them, wipe their butts in the restrooms, walk out without washing their hands and grab the handle of their shopping cart. Who is the next lucky person to use that cart.?

The more water the better for veges. I am going to wash and dry them anyway when I get home, no wonder people become ill from tomatoes, lettuce and fresh fruit that has been picked over by customers with contagious diseases.

By the way the cashiers that handle money all day, they handle your food to scan the price.

Whole different world out there, does not mean we must run about with a mask and gloves on, YET.  But on the MTA in Boston at the medical centers you can tell who workes in medical care, they put on those thin clear gloves before holding onto the bars or the over head straps.

I put any and all fresh vegetables and fruit in the plastic bags in the produce department. I won't put them in the cart otherwise.

I bag meat too.

And I wipe my cart handle down with the antisceptic throwaways the store keeps right by the carts.

I don't care if the dummies do or don't like it. Those carts a nothing but a cluster of germs looking for a new home. I'm sure that I got the chicken pox last year from a grocery cart!!!! 

 

[Ree]

I used to get mad coz every time I reached to get some veg I'd get wet...There was no warning....it was a bitch in the winter goin around with a wet sleeve...

[debk]

I used to get mad coz every time I reached to get some veg I'd get wet...There was no warning....it was a bitch in the winter goin around with a wet sleeve...

Ours do the thunderstorm warning thing.

Still seem to get all wet though when I pick up the lettuce. 

[longview]

Ours do the thunderstorm warning thing.

Ours does that, too.  One day I was picking produce out while standing next to a gentleman.  The thunder sounded and he looked up and said, "Yes, God?"  Made me laugh.  I think of that everytime now.