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JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

21. The apples today have no taste.

Sun Jun 1, 2014, 01:41 AM

Jun 2014

Ahh! I remember the Jonathons of my childhood.

My grandmother had apple trees (as I recall but perhaps incorrectly) that produced yellow apples in the Spring. They were my favorites.

And we could eat the Delicious apples back then. They actually tasted. They tasted.

I mean that. The so-called Delicious apples my store offers today are anything but . . . delicious. They are horrible.

I like Rome apples but the season is short.

I lived in France. The French take pride in their food. They taste, savor, delight in the flavor of their food.

In the groceries, the fruits were stacked in beautiful neat piles. I never bought a piece of spoiled fruit in France. A putrid grape or strawberry would be scandaleux.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scandaleux

We would not be so fat if we learned to eat and to store and prepare our food so as to save the flavor not just the illusion of flavor.

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The real reason the French don’t get fat [View all] Newsjock May 2014 OP

Yes. I'm waiting for our local strawberries elleng May 2014 #1

i always hated brussels sprouts until i tried some in france. omg! completely different! unblock May 2014 #2

I never liked asparagus or beets beveeheart Jun 2014 #10

I never liked asparagus, brussel sprouts or beets fasttense Jun 2014 #44

yes yes yes antiquie Jun 2014 #59

Ah radish tails. I love the crispy spicy flavor. Keep growing!!! fasttense Jun 2014 #61

Yes, so many good vegetables you can grow in your garden dem in texas Jun 2014 #64

On of my favorite appetizers is homegrown or farmer's market radishes with sweet corn butter. Luminous Animal Jun 2014 #72

and home grown heirloom potatoes hopemountain Jun 2014 #124

Can't find better soil than in the Midwest of the US. (Good soil in parts of Russia too I JDPriestly Jun 2014 #25

They have to grow corn to get that subsidy. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #48

good one.. and we need to spend all that oil to grow ethanol nt Leme Jun 2014 #60

I lived in France in the 50s and demigoddess Jun 2014 #70

I would love to live there... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2014 #123

A lot of that has to do with cooking too quakerboy Jun 2014 #128

Someone tell Gerard Depardieu LittleBlue May 2014 #3

There are fat French people uppityperson Jun 2014 #107

Grapes.... Spitfire of ATJ May 2014 #4

French grapes suck Brother Buzz Jun 2014 #9

Wine is served there like a soft drink and there is no shortage of bad wine. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #12

That's true most everywhere Brother Buzz Jun 2014 #15

France invented champagne to make crappy wine drinkable. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #26

That's the one time I applaud the French for adding sugar Brother Buzz Jun 2014 #67

Neither is Thunderbird,....if served over ice cream. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #75

What's the word? Brother Buzz Jun 2014 #78

It's a 7/11 special so most people have it with a Snickers. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #81

It's seems appropriate they are celebrating Thunderbird at the convenience stores Brother Buzz Jun 2014 #89

That wasn't lemonade,....he just mixed it up with his pee bottle. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #91

No, he lied, shucked and jived to protect his secret, but idiot spies from Gallo believed him Brother Buzz Jun 2014 #93

Bartles and Jaymes? Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #95

It's truly amazing how many Gallo products are out there Brother Buzz Jun 2014 #98

You can BET that "distancing" is a tax dodge and to SIMULATE competition. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #99

Gallo is a four letter word in the wine realm Brother Buzz Jun 2014 #104

Not the retail liquor tax, the tax on their profits.... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #106

Does Ford Motor Company ask for federal grants and loans to roll out a new product line? Brother Buzz Jun 2014 #114

They get LOTS of "incentives" which includes fee waivers, tax breaks and other perks. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #139

I once jokingly asked a wine "expert" in a cadaverdog Jun 2014 #109

"Port" surprises people too. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #140

Or a moon pie. kairos12 Jun 2014 #121

it takes a titration kit Drahthaardogs Jun 2014 #148

Alsatian wine is the bomb. lark Jun 2014 #119

Alsatian wines totally rock compared to the same varietal wines from Germany Brother Buzz Jun 2014 #125

I believe they said GRAPES.. not wine. I'm just saying. YOHABLO Jun 2014 #130

That's kind of dishonest to make it appear that chaptalisation is the sign of an inferior wine. Drahthaardogs Jun 2014 #131

Ever had Japanese grapes? defacto7 Jun 2014 #17

I miss concords. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #27

I grow concords and they are wonderful... defacto7 Jun 2014 #30

They make great jelly but the wine is, well, you know. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #49

Isn't that sold in a box? Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #73

Perish the thought. It's bad enough in a bottle. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #77

For our parties it's Moscato by the jug.... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #82

Best Kitchen smell, When cooking concord Grapes dem in texas Jun 2014 #80

It's a nice aroma. It must be too hot for native grapes in Texas. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #84

Japanese grapes are absolutely fantastic GeoWilliam750 Jun 2014 #113

didn't strawberries originate in France ? JI7 May 2014 #5

Have no idea, but they grow wild on the banks of the rivers there. closeupready May 2014 #6

Brittany, France Treant Jun 2014 #11

They walk a lot, and eat smaller portions. closeupready May 2014 #7

And rarely eat junk food. progressoid Jun 2014 #13

Walking is so important. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #24

Yes, very important to move, walk, etc. closeupready Jun 2014 #65

Wasn't it on Anthony Bordain's CNN show laundry_queen Jun 2014 #31

Fresh produce is sweet, and so much healthier than canned. closeupready Jun 2014 #66

Your Grandmother's garden reminds me of Delmette Jun 2014 #83

I grew up in western Montana. zeemike Jun 2014 #142

My mouth is watering Delmette Jun 2014 #147

I remember eating raw rhubarb in Ohio... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2014 #127

smoking helps AngryAmish Jun 2014 #37

There is very little food advertising encouraging you spooky3 Jun 2014 #38

That's exactly right - they walk a lot aint_no_life_nowhere Jun 2014 #86

Yup Bigredhunk Jun 2014 #110

I spent a week in France fixing my applegrove Jun 2014 #8

LOL, nutrition! It will be called "woo" before you can talk about it. flvegan Jun 2014 #14

My mom at 97 loves vegetables. She also eats meat, but she loves vegetables. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #23

Quite a story. 97! Enthusiast Jun 2014 #50

Nutrition has already been called "woo" here. Next will be "flavor". bananas Jun 2014 #35

Who calls nutrition woo? Silent3 Jun 2014 #146

America's whole antiquated food system is based on PROFITS! DeSwiss Jun 2014 #16

so true and I'm so glad to live where I live cali Jun 2014 #39

Oh oh. Now you have called up our GMO roody Jun 2014 #51

+1 a whole fucking bunch. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #52

About one third of all food produced for human consumption goes to waste. DeSwiss Jun 2014 #88

That is just sad. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #90

It is doubtful the French or anyone else treestar Jun 2014 #54

Children in French schools are fed defacto7 Jun 2014 #18

And their health care is probably the best in the world. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #22

I think I read the same article. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #55

I have noticed that when I'm eating some very good SheilaT Jun 2014 #19

when we started buying organic meat demigoddess Jun 2014 #71

I had the same experiences with organic meats Tom Ripley Jun 2014 #126

cuz they smoke like chimneys? Warren DeMontague Jun 2014 #20

Many do, but overall that's not the reason for the much lower rates of obesity. Arugula Latte Jun 2014 #96

Yep you got that right. The French are notorious smokers .. yuk! YOHABLO Jun 2014 #132

The apples today have no taste. JDPriestly Jun 2014 #21

I can hardly find a Jonathon apple anymore. CrispyQ Jun 2014 #68

I love sour Pippins noiretextatique Jun 2014 #116

maybe im just spoiled mackerel Jun 2014 #28

No, people. That's not it at all. jmowreader Jun 2014 #29

That's a really good observation laundry_queen Jun 2014 #32

Sounds right to me. My parents-in-law lived that way untill they died in their late 90's. enough Jun 2014 #45

True, though it's out there 6 smaller meals are better treestar Jun 2014 #53

If they're good, nutritionally balanced meals, then yes jmowreader Jun 2014 #118

That's true treestar Jun 2014 #129

Saturated fat is good for you. tridim Jun 2014 #87

French butter. I yearn for it. vanlassie Jun 2014 #33

do the french or americans eat more french fries ? JI7 Jun 2014 #34

In France they're "pommes frites" jmowreader Jun 2014 #120

it just has to LOOK like a strawberry. i only eat local fruit/veggies IN SEASON food mainly. pansypoo53219 Jun 2014 #36

I had a banana in Martinique once, best banana I ever had in my life. We don't get seaglass Jun 2014 #40

I had them in Belize. pecwae Jun 2014 #41

Once you've gone bananas, you'll never go back! bananas Jun 2014 #58

I need to go to Belize now. Actually I wanted to go before I heard about the bananas. :-) n/t seaglass Jun 2014 #149

The French are getting fatter these days. Codeine Jun 2014 #42

I think the French as with other countries are getting into the "American Fast Food" race.... a kennedy Jun 2014 #47

Pick your own farms HockeyMom Jun 2014 #43

and there you have it.......done for profit at the cheapest rate.... a kennedy Jun 2014 #46

I use frozen organic strawberries or farmer's market berries tridim Jun 2014 #56

I've read several articles stating that recently. CrispyQ Jun 2014 #69

Oh my, so the foods I don't like isn't because its SummerSnow Jun 2014 #57

Their food portions are much smaller. When I first visited France, I felt cheated Marr Jun 2014 #62

weird. Everytime I dined in France I never felt like I had too little food. Warren Stupidity Jun 2014 #63

I always had the opposite reaction in the US Saviolo Jun 2014 #94

That reminds me laundry_queen Jun 2014 #111

Do the French have a regularly recurring "Game of the Week"... KansDem Jun 2014 #74

Food definitely was sweeter, tastier PumpkinAle Jun 2014 #76

Strawberries are coming into season here in Germany DFW Jun 2014 #79

Organic tastes better lofty1 Jun 2014 #85

Several years ago on a business trip to California, I discovered how delicious the local indepat Jun 2014 #92

Our Oregon strawberry season is just starting. It will only last a few weeks. Arugula Latte Jun 2014 #97

I remember fresh Louisiana strawberries from the late 50s/early 60s: what a taste treat indepat Jun 2014 #112

One of my favorite things about summer Blue_In_AK Jun 2014 #100

Don't forget 2naSalit Jun 2014 #101

Could be a different type as well... Helen Borg Jun 2014 #102

All food is generally better in Europe! Helen Borg Jun 2014 #103

Fresh Veg is unbelievably better. blackspade Jun 2014 #105

Locally grown for taste vs grown elsewhere for shipping qualities is a big thing. uppityperson Jun 2014 #108

My Wife & I were so dusgusted with the produce available in the USA... bvar22 Jun 2014 #115

Also, France doesn't have huge factory farms that ship everywhere lark Jun 2014 #117

Also, pretty much all produce in France is grown organically, and organic tends to have more flavor DesertDiamond Jun 2014 #122

Um, no and no frazzled Jun 2014 #133

Simpler answer: They smoke. WinkyDink Jun 2014 #134

The endless chain smoking is a bigger factor than fresh food appeal sybylla Jun 2014 #135

Grow small garden mstinamotorcity2 Jun 2014 #136

This person is clueless as to the timetable and logistics of perishable shipping. Ikonoklast Jun 2014 #137

Access to fresh produce might have something to do with the fact that... DRoseDARs Jun 2014 #138

Something that I learned from a Filipino couple that I know... pacalo Jun 2014 #141

Something I often wonder about pipi_k Jun 2014 #143

Our strawberries are almost ready in the garden. Kids sit for an hour picking and eating them AllyCat Jun 2014 #144

Locally grown makes a world of difference IronLionZion Jun 2014 #145