Veggie Tales

Virginia Postrel digs up a Washington Post piece that explains the recent rise of what was once an oxymoron: tasty supermarket tomatoes. The article has, in her words, "all the elements of a contemporary business yarn—globalization, intellectual property disputes, secretive business deals." It's such a good read, in fact, that I couldn't imagine why I didn't hear about it when it was originally published … until I noticed that it came out on September 12, 2001.

Comments

[Stickler]

We certainly are scrounging around for topics.

By the way, “digging up” would be more applicable to potatoes, not tomatoes.

[Douglas Fletcher]

‘Digging up’ definitely applies to the Washington Post. You could also use ‘lifting up,’ as in ‘lifting up from the bottom of the bird cage.’

[Maurkov]

I am interested in the topic of produce.

I have noticed that when a product (like the grape tomato) is new it is quite appealing to the customer. Once it has a niche, other factors like shelf life and shock resistance become more important, and quality falls. Does anyone remember when Gala apples were new (and good)?

Regular tomatoes have been around a while. I guess that’s why, when everyone wants tomatoes that are juicy and delicious, 97% of the time all I can find are those crunchy, flavorless, grayish pink blobs. Obviously what consumers want is not the same as what grocers want. How do we get them to pander to us?

[Douglas Fletcher]

Bitch, whine and moan. Always works. Ask any bitch.

[dj of raleigh]

Buy stewed tomatoes in cans, sliced or not,
shelf life is greater, tomatoes are soft, tasty,
and CHEAP!