Do you 'taste-test' fruits at the grocery store?
Grapes can have odd flavors on occasion, so we generally have one of whatever looks best before commiting to them. Blueberries and strawberries can be the same way, but we won't check them if they're already in those closed plastic boxes. We've found recently though that some people cringe at tasting, say, grapes right out of the bag. They can get downright disgusted about it. Your thoughts? What do you do?
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19 Comments:
cringe...
tgchi at 8:25AM on 08/13/07
I usually won't buy grapes w/o tasting one of them first... berries and such, i usually go by smell and sight.
Alm25 at 8:38AM on 08/13/07
Only grapes. But always grapes! Nothing is worse than paying 4 bucks for a pound of grapes and they are sour or worse tasteless.
Sindy at 9:08AM on 08/13/07
I don't steal.
Barbara Hanson at 9:25AM on 08/13/07
I only had to do that once because I was unsure if the peppers I was about to buy were sweet or hot. They were sweet - and I gladly bought the box!
chiff0nade at 11:11AM on 08/13/07
Honestly? NO! Unless it's from a very small, humble farmer's market that I trust...otherwise I don't know where that fruit has been and I prefer to wash my veges and fruit really good before partaking. Yeah, I'm a spazz. Now, bulk candy on the other hand... ;)
cheffy at 12:09PM on 08/13/07
RE: BaHa
Actually, a lot of small vendors encourage you to 'try' their goods...so I don't consider it stealing if you take a nibble of what someone proffers from their garden, especially if you do it openly. :)
cheffy at 12:11PM on 08/13/07
Here in Minneapolis, we do all of our grocery shopping at Lunds or SuperTarget. I have found that both places will actually give you a sample of any produce (where it is practical) if you simply ask.
Also, in the past year, both have expanded it's demo/tasting programs. Beyond the frozen pizza & cheese samples, they have stations with items to taste test grapes, berries, melons, apples & oranges, tomatoes, and many other items.
I always taste test strawberries, because more than any other produce, this is the one item I have been fooled into buying by looks, smell, etc...I think that if a place won't accommodate you with this type of request (when it is reasonable) then they don't appreciate your business.
2qrs at 12:21PM on 08/13/07
Logic? A vendor at the Farmer's Market offering me a slice of nectarine justifies my stealing from Key Food?
Barbara Hanson at 12:31PM on 08/13/07
RE: BaHa
LOL! You have a point but...I think nibbling one grape is hardly stealing...c'mon now...let's be realistic eh? ;) Me? I don't do it for the mere fact I don't know where half that stuff has been (i.e. dropped on dirty floors during shipping, passed hand-to-hand with workers whom might not wash their you-know-whats and a bazillion other scary things). I see little kids grab a nibble all the time [quite openly, mind youl] and grocers don't get all up-in-arms about it. I raised my daughter to NEVER, EVER nibble on things because of sanitary reasons...it's just creepy to me but some folks are perfectly fine with that and hey, as long as your immune system is strong...eh...still grosses me out though. :))
cheffy at 12:40PM on 08/13/07
If it ain't yours, it ain't yours.
Barbara Hanson at 12:49PM on 08/13/07
when samples are out - yes. that's one of the (limited) benefits of the harris teeter. always samples.
samedog at 1:37PM on 08/13/07
No:
1. Unless the store puts out samples, it's theft.
2. I don't eat grocery items that I don't wash first. You just don't know what people do with their hands before they pick up fruit/veggies, etc.
hereandthe at 1:59PM on 08/13/07
Oh, of course, samples. They're being *offered*, which makes all the difference.
Barbara Hanson at 2:12PM on 08/13/07
I shop at Fresh Market. Most often, free samples of seasonal produce are offered. Otherwise, I don't taste before purchase. On the other hand, I am very picky about my choices----I always have to inspect each selection by weight and do the "sniff test". Never buy pre-packaged produce as I cook for one & rarely need a large quanity.
JEP at 3:47PM on 08/13/07
grocery store, no. farmers market, yes.
krystl at 5:06PM on 08/13/07
No.
First of all, don't they need to be washed? Second of all, isn't that what all those "feeling for ripeness" tests are for? If you think you can just take a bite out of an apple, who's to stop you from opening up a box of crackers? I think they are there to buy :)
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 7:01PM on 08/13/07
Well, it English supermarkets, all of the fruit is wrapped up in three or four different kinds of packaging (a little plastic tray inside clear plastic wrap, etc.) So tasting is out of the question, but I wouldn't anyway. I once saw someone walking around a Sainsbury's and making themselves a sandwich: a few slices of bread, some salami, some pre-sliced cheese. I actually found it hilarious as an onlooker, but obviously the management was informed and the person was escorted outside. I seem to remember that they got to keep the sandwich though.
caley at 10:09AM on 08/14/07
Except cherries, and grapes
64sqftkitchen at 1:40PM on 08/14/07