I enjoyed it, thanks for sharing.

Sue VA, good story. I admit I am guilty of tasting a grape before buying. I don't know how many times I have bought grapes, not tasting only to find they are sour, when I get them home. They end up not being eaten and even when I have put them out for the birds, they won't eat them. If a produce man is working, I'll ask if it is OK, and they have always say yes. Buying fresh fruit is really a crap-shoot. They have ways to artificially ripen them so the good, sweet flavor doesn't develop, It seems like a waste of my limited money to throw away on food I can't eat. I admit, I don't have an answer to the dilemma.

I've often thought they should have some of these things available to "test" since the flavor varies so much. it is getting so that I don't even buy ANY fresh fruit anymore 'cause it all tastes like cr@p especially for the price. Unless, it's "local" produce of some sort, it's usually not tasty anymore. Even then, I've often been disappointed especially in corn on the cob. I think they've engineered the good taste out of things just to give them a longer shelf life.

Our Safeway "fruit guy" always offers to cut open or pluck off any fruit that we're looking at. :) In other countries and at our local farmer's markets there is usually a sample open and waiting for you to try before you buy. I so appreciate it when it's available.

Blessings,
Haley

cute essay!

Great funny story- my MIL always sampled fruit before she'd buy it. And at the bakery counter she always told the clerk "Give me a fresh one." Like they saved up the stale loaves to give her! Made me laugh!

I always sample a grape before buying. My grocery store wants you to try them. As Hale Bopp said, they will even cut open a fruit for you to sample. It's sampling, not stealing (unless you make a meal out of it!! LOL!).

I'll sample a grape or cherry before buying... don't want to waste my money on tasteless produce. Wish there was a way to sample watermelons lol... I've quit buying them cause they all taste awful anymore.

I don't sample the fruit before I buy. I do give it the sniff test. It if doesn't smell fruity, it isn't ripe.

I no longer buy melons from the grocery store unless they are locally grown. if you ask the produce guys, they'll usually tell you about the quality. I buy them from the fruit stands when they are in season. I also ask where they were picked to make sure they are local.

OK you called me out of "hiding" on this one. When grapes were 99 cents - I would take the chance and not taste them. Add another dollar per pound and up and I am eating one grape. Yes I always buy if I sample - unless they are horrible. I do not sample other fruits - just grapes.

I'm also a grape tester. And, just realized this year that if I don't want the larger full bags, I can take some and put into a smaller veggie bag. They are sold by weight, so this is good, since we never eat a full bag.

I enjoyed your essay, Sue.

I usually taste the grapes, too. When my grandson was about two and a half or three years old, he apparently saw me sample a Concord grape at a local produce stand, so he took one too. Well, he got yelled at by the owner! I know now I had set a bad example, but he was practically a baby. I rarely go back there now, even though the place is right in my home town.

If you get sour grapes ...

... make jam!

o j

Hi Sue,

I thought that you were going to say that someone had given you a goat for Mother's Day!

o j

P.S. Subject line necessarily altered ... to make the message admissable.

o j

No, OJ, no one gave me a goat, but I've gotten many an other person's goat!

Sue

Hi Sue,

Haven't we all??

o j