Preserve me from fresh fruit

by Editor on June 18th, 2010 Comment

By The Editor
MADISONCHATHAM THIS WEEK

Is it just us, or is produce from the supermarket — especially fruit — spoiling more quickly than it used to?

   We mean, we barely enjoy two or three bowlfuls of Special K with blueberries before the berries turn white and form themselves into one powdery mass.

   Not so appetizing, if you know what we mean.

   On the other hand, early spoilage could be a good thing, in that we are not ingesting the amount and variety of preservatives and pesticides that once kept fruits and veggies fresh for weeks.

   Still, when we are spilling containers of prematurely mottled strawberries and raspberries and cherries into the trash, we can't help thinking: What's so bad about a little benzoate, sulfites or Alar?

   Disease, you say?

   Cognitive disorders?

   Hair that glows in the dark?

   Sigh. We suppose you're right.

   Besides, we can always use blueberry preserves or strawberry jam on our cereal.

   So far, that stuff still lasts forever. Not to mention Special K Red Berries — the cereal with the fruit built right in.