| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Apr 07 2021 : 8:20:02 PM
Okay, so I have to share something with you, girls.
I don't usually buy produce from other than local farms, but every once in a while I pass by the fresh fruit at the local big box store and pause. I know it's not good for me, but sometimes, I really do think, "Maaaaybe..." But I don't. Even though I'm someone who usually cleans and rinses all my fresh produce super well, I just can't bring myself to buy something that isn't grown locally, and, especially, that isn't sealed.
SO...
I was at the local big box store the other day, feeling pretty proud of myself for once again passing up those big red strawberries in the case, when I looked over and gasped. There was this really big older man with about 4 different boxes of strawberries, opened, and he was handpicking through each and every one, carefully examining them. He was removing the ones that were less than desirable and replacing them with fresher ones from other boxes. Then he was putting the less desirable boxes in the case and pulling out new boxes and start all over again. I just stood there watching him in absolute shock. Here was this guy, in the middle of Covid, touching every single strawberry in the boxes with his unsanitized hands!!!! Now I know people who NEVER wash their produce when they get home, thinking it was pre-washed. Some have even commented that I'm a bit too paranoid (yes, even now, in the time of Covid!). This made me want to run screaming into the sunset! I understand all the different points of view about masking and sanitizing, etc. To me, it's not about agreeing or disagreeing with what we are told to do right now. It's about being responsible and considerate of other people when we are out in public. You just never know what the other person is going through.
SO.
I quickly strolled away, trying to find one of the stock people on the floor. Nobody. Suddenly this lovely lady turned the corner and I stopped her to tell her what was going on. I told her I realize that they do take the boxes in the back and remove bad fruit and replace them with fresher fruit, but this? A customer? During COVID? UGH! That is just WRONG. She gasped and said, "No!" I said, "Yes!" And she looked over my shoulder and said, "Oh, yes he IS! Thank you!" And she marched toward him. He saw her, quickly squirreled away the boxes into the case and his cart and gingerly walked away. Then I watched her just staring into the case, as if to say, "NOW what am I gonna do?!" And you just know there was nothing she COULD do, shy of pulling out every box and pitching them. You know they would never waste that. Ugh. I was ILL.
So, let me say this: I know you girls know to wash your produce, no matter where it comes from. But a lot of people we know and love take it for granted that the fruit from the store is clean (How many times have YOU seen a young mother open a box of berries and hand her kid one to gnosh on before she even gets to the register?!). It's not clean. It's just not. It passes through many hands before it even gets in the case. And now we know that other inconsiderate customers are touching everything, too. We're made to wear masks, but nobody is told to keep their grimy, sweaty, nose scratching, unwashed fingers off the produce. So, please, tell your loved ones: clean your fruits and veggies before eating them. And if they scoff, please share this story with them. I know they are now saying Covid is completely airborne and that we don't need to sanitize everything as once thought, but I'm telling you... coughing spreads germs, sneezing spreads germs, touching one's face then touching produce spreads germs, unwashed hands after using a public restroom spreads germs - you name it - all of that stuff is touching your food (not to mention food that has been dropped on the floor where filthy shoe bottoms - imagine where THEY have trod - once scuffed and shuffled along, or inside the dirty case and replaced in the box). And THOSE germs are sitting right on your produce from the store, and many of those germs are still viable and able to infect you if you don't clean them. Think: flu. Think: cold. Hepatitis, maybe?
Ugh... SO gross. Gross. Gross. Gross.
People really don't think. I'm sure he didn't even realize how bad what he was doing really was. I totally understand how aggravating it is to get rotten food in a brand new package, but we just can't rifle through it like that. Covid or not. UGH! YUCK!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Apr 15 2021 : 11:26:58 PM
Oh, man! YUUUUUCKKK! The only consolation I would have with that, Dianna, is that grapes aren't porous like strawberries, and might be more easily washed. But seriously - she could get so sick, not just whomever gets those bags of grapes when she is done with them! Geez! GEEZ!
You're right, too - that IS theft. Maybe an angel quieted your lips because she couldn't afford them and really needed the food. But it's still not right. We teach our kids NOT to do things like that and then this lady is setting a terrible example. Sigh...
I'm sorry I opened your eyes to this stuff, truthfully. But I guess we need to know. Covid or no Covid, you can get so dang sick from doing stuff like this. People just don't get it. Ever since seeing "strawberry man," I'm super vigilant about what is going on around me at the store, and about what items I pick up and take home. <<<shudder>>>
And you're in good company, Dianna. Truly: my foster daughter hasn't dubbed me "the Lysol Queen" for nothing! LOL! No judgment here!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| suny58 |
Posted - Apr 10 2021 : 4:42:12 PM
You are not going to believe this!! Yesterday at Publix, I was going through produce grabbing a few bags of organic apples and wrapped organic cukes and as I was coming around the corner where the grapes are BAGGED up there stood an older woman, unmasked since the mandate had just been lifted, going through not one but SEVERAL bags of grapes, eating out of each one! Honestly, I'd never seen anyone do this but knew they were out there. I stood there watching her go through the bags for a couple minutes as I was also looking for the produce manager. Her masked husband was coming down the isle and saw me watching her. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. She didn't blink twice, but zipped the bag she was eating out of and reached on the upper shelf grabbing a bag of grapes from the back. If my red headed Irish heritage had kicked in I would have approached her and let her know she was a fine example of theft and I knew why our prices were going up. But I kept my mouth shut. As difficult as that is for me. ( I'm a work in progress) sigh....thanks Nini for opening my eyes to things I'd not seen before! Ordering all my produce from the local farmers market now. Ick....
Grace, I just felt like throwing up!!! Major gross!
Quaking in the medical field for almost 30 years I too am a gwrmaphobic! I carry a spray bottle of alcohol where ever I go!!
Farmgirl #7103
FGOTM January 2018
Dianna
"Blessed are they that see beautiful things in humble places, where other people see nothing." Pissarro |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Apr 09 2021 : 11:36:44 PM
I'm with you, Judith! The fewer hands on my food the better - garden to table is definitely best!
April - we are kindred spirits where this is concerned. I've been dubbed "The Lysol Queen" by my foster daughter - it's me versus the gems! LOL! I know THAT's not good for us, either; but many years ago I watched a program that featured germs and bacteria found around our homes... I don't think I've slept right since! LOL! Just kidding... But it is gross. I know we need to build up an immunity to things, but I'm not taking chances with my food, SORRY!!!! GROSS!
LOL! OMGoodness, Gracie! Ewww! EWWW! EWWW! Gack! GACK! GACK! How COULD she??? BRRRRRRR. That gave me the willies. I'd never eat store bought ice cream again! LOL! I'm sure they see a lot of ucky stuff at the grocery store. I want to know, and yet I don't want to know, you know? ;) And the wine corks - LOL! YES!
And Linda, you are so right. He was so focused on what HE wanted that I'm sure he didn't give his actions a second thought.
Krista - Oh my, AMEN! I try to grow as much as I can, too! So much better for us, anyway! We just really have to take the reigns for our family's health! If we don't, who else will, right?
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Apr 09 2021 : 2:04:09 PM
This is a big reason why I want to grow as much of my food as I can!
Grace, that is so gross. These people are so lucky they haven’t ran into me. I would be sure to say something! That’s just nasty!
Krista |
| quiltee |
Posted - Apr 09 2021 : 09:56:19 AM
He was just thinking of himself and wanted the very best strawberries for himself. UGH! I always wash fruits and veggies no matter where I get them.
Farmgirl hugs,
Linda
Terrell, TX
Farm girl #1919
Farm Girl of the Month August 2015 and April 2017
"Women are Angels, and when someone breaks our wings, we simply continue to fly . . . on a broomstick - we're flexible, like that."
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| katmom |
Posted - Apr 08 2021 : 10:30:01 PM
Nini,, let me share with you an even Grosser story,, back before they plastic banded ice cream containers,, I was in a local VON's Market, I saw a lady take the lid off of the Ice Cream container, run her finger across the top, taste the ice cream then put the lid back on and put it back into the freezer.. I went and got the store manager.. he was not as shocked as I thought he would be,, and he preceded to tell my some more Market Horror stories.. we did go back to the Freezer section and he removed the container...
I shudder to think what customers do... from sampling grapes,, to swapping things in containers...
As for washing,, Oh Heck Ya! I even rinse off my oranges and bananas.. after all, customers grope all the produce....
Thank goodness customers can't fondle corked Wine bottles!!! lololol!
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| Dreamer42 |
Posted - Apr 08 2021 : 4:18:42 PM
Oh Nini, Yes, I've seen this as well and I'm with you 300%, gross, inconsiderate and rude. I'm paranoid about germs all the time anyways, even before Covid, I can't help it, I always think of all those points you made and more about everything, everywhere. It's exhausting. YES!! WASH EVERYTHING!! Ugg!! I'm sorry, but that man needs a swift kick in the rumpster along with a little health 101 class!
Dreamer42
Farmgirl Sister #7038 |
| StitchinWitch |
Posted - Apr 08 2021 : 2:00:12 PM
I have also seen people do this in the store. The fewer hands that touch my food the better. I don't buy any prepackaged food if possible. Unfortunately berries are always prepackaged. Wash everything and hope for the best. Grow your own if possible.
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Apr 08 2021 : 07:41:52 AM
I honestly don't know, Dianna. I am sure he wasn't thinking about how it could affect others. He probably just wanted to ensure he was buying good produce. I get that. BUT I wish people could be better educated about things like this and more sensitive to other people. I'm afraid a simple sign just wouldn't cut it. :\
I am very grateful for local farms to be sure! Hands down, better food all-around! :)
Hugs,
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| suny58 |
Posted - Apr 08 2021 : 07:23:59 AM
Ewwww, I felt nauseated reading this but know it to be true. I like you Niki see this a lot at our local grocery and I am super careful. Like Dawn I use vinegar water to wash and or soak my veggies and fruit qhen possible! That's why I like buying from my local farms!! Far better and safer it seems. Ugh, people....what do they think?
Farmgirl #7103
FGOTM January 2018
Dianna
"Blessed are they that see beautiful things in humble places, where other people see nothing." Pissarro |
| Ninibini |
Posted - Apr 08 2021 : 06:18:31 AM
Amen to that, Dawn! Amen to that!
Hugs,
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| ddmashayekhi |
Posted - Apr 08 2021 : 05:26:35 AM
Thanks for telling us about this Nini. I always wash my produce from Whole Foods and use vinegar in the water for extra insurance. I only buy organic and I am well aware that who knows how it was handled before I bring it home. Even before the pandemic I have been washing produce since I was a kid. Homegrown, farmers market, Whole Foods, it doesn't matter, everything gets a thorough washing!
Dawn in IL
"April... hath put a spirit of youth in everything." - William Shakespeare
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