The other week I bought some strawberries not realising they were imported
from California. I do check labels but didn't think to in this case as we
get aus. strawberries all year round. We do get some US fruit and Mexican
mangoes and I buy Californian navel oranges in the australian off season
because I prefer them to valencias. These were strawberries were expensive
which would normally have put me off but I needed some and was in a hurry so
I splurged.

Anyway, I didn't realise the strawberries weren't home grown until DS4
rejected them as tasting 'funny'. They were sweet but tasted like a cross
between melon and watery strawberry without the usual intensity and
tartness. I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US
strawberries taste significantly different from region to region?

Tai

"Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net...

I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region?

I think it's just the fact that a strawberry is a VERY hit or miss fruit.

"Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net...

I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region?

I think it's just the fact that a strawberry is a VERY hit or miss fruit.

jwb wrote: "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net... I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region? I think it's just the fact that a strawberry is a VERY hit or miss fruit.

Hmmmmm..... but even allowing for that - and here it's usually more a
variation in sweetness between the varieties and affected by how they are
grown - they were quite different from all the kinds we get here. Maybe it's
just that your varieties are quite different.

Do you grow your own at all, JWB? We never seem to get enough from our
plants and have to cover them with netting to keep the birds off them.

Tai

jwb wrote: "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net... I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region? I think it's just the fact that a strawberry is a VERY hit or miss fruit.

Hmmmmm..... but even allowing for that - and here it's usually more a
variation in sweetness between the varieties and affected by how they are
grown - they were quite different from all the kinds we get here. Maybe it's
just that your varieties are quite different.

Do you grow your own at all, JWB? We never seem to get enough from our
plants and have to cover them with netting to keep the birds off them.

Tai

"Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3ghkn1Fchqm6U1@individual.net... jwb wrote: "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net... I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region? I think it's just the fact that a strawberry is a VERY hit or miss fruit. Hmmmmm..... but even allowing for that - and here it's usually more a variation in sweetness between the varieties and affected by how they are grown - they were quite different from all the kinds we get here. Maybe it's just that your varieties are quite different. Do you grow your own at all, JWB? We never seem to get enough from our plants and have to cover them with netting to keep the birds off them.

I have (or more accurately, my wife has), but they were never very good.

Growing good fruit is hard (besides watermelon or tomatoes)

"Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3ghkn1Fchqm6U1@individual.net... jwb wrote: "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net... I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region? I think it's just the fact that a strawberry is a VERY hit or miss fruit. Hmmmmm..... but even allowing for that - and here it's usually more a variation in sweetness between the varieties and affected by how they are grown - they were quite different from all the kinds we get here. Maybe it's just that your varieties are quite different. Do you grow your own at all, JWB? We never seem to get enough from our plants and have to cover them with netting to keep the birds off them.

I have (or more accurately, my wife has), but they were never very good.

Growing good fruit is hard (besides watermelon or tomatoes)

jwb wrote: "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message
Do you grow your own at all, JWB? We never seem to get enough from our plants and have to cover them with netting to keep the birds off them. I have (or more accurately, my wife has), but they were never very good. Growing good fruit is hard (besides watermelon or tomatoes)

We don't have enough room for watermelons but we had a bumper crop of
tomatoes this year. I'd pick them sun-warm off the vine on my way past. Yum.
:)

Tai

jwb wrote: "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message
Do you grow your own at all, JWB? We never seem to get enough from our plants and have to cover them with netting to keep the birds off them. I have (or more accurately, my wife has), but they were never very good. Growing good fruit is hard (besides watermelon or tomatoes)

We don't have enough room for watermelons but we had a bumper crop of
tomatoes this year. I'd pick them sun-warm off the vine on my way past. Yum.
:)

Tai

"Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3gi6olFcitpoU1@individual.net... jwb wrote: "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message Do you grow your own at all, JWB? We never seem to get enough from our plants and have to cover them with netting to keep the birds off them. I have (or more accurately, my wife has), but they were never very good. Growing good fruit is hard (besides watermelon or tomatoes) We don't have enough room for watermelons but we had a bumper crop of tomatoes this year. I'd pick them sun-warm off the vine on my way past. Yum. :)

Nothing like good tomatoes - odd, I never really cared for them until my
wife started growing them. Now I find it hard to eat a sandwich without
them.

"Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3gi6olFcitpoU1@individual.net... jwb wrote: "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message Do you grow your own at all, JWB? We never seem to get enough from our plants and have to cover them with netting to keep the birds off them. I have (or more accurately, my wife has), but they were never very good. Growing good fruit is hard (besides watermelon or tomatoes) We don't have enough room for watermelons but we had a bumper crop of tomatoes this year. I'd pick them sun-warm off the vine on my way past. Yum. :)

Nothing like good tomatoes - odd, I never really cared for them until my
wife started growing them. Now I find it hard to eat a sandwich without
them.

"jwb" <jwb3333remove@excite.com> wrote in message
news:GYMoe.21278$IX4.2595@twister.nyc.rr.com... "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net... I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region? I think it's just the fact that a strawberry is a VERY hit or miss fruit.

I think the California fruit grown for export (either abroad or x-country
shipping) is bred for maximized size and longevity, not flavor. That's a
process that's been going on in commercial produce using old-fashioned
selective breeding as well, so it doesn't necessarily mean genetic
engineering (though that's also a possibility). I don't know if it's
something particular about the locale, but I doubt it. Most large-scale
commerical growers of any produce crop plant the same narrow range of
varieties, regardless of where they are in the country.

'Mericans, for whatever mysterious reason, would rather buy big fruit that
looks pretty and tastes like crap, than smaller and more flavorful
varieties.

"jwb" <jwb3333remove@excite.com> wrote in message
news:GYMoe.21278$IX4.2595@twister.nyc.rr.com... "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net... I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region? I think it's just the fact that a strawberry is a VERY hit or miss fruit.

I think the California fruit grown for export (either abroad or x-country
shipping) is bred for maximized size and longevity, not flavor. That's a
process that's been going on in commercial produce using old-fashioned
selective breeding as well, so it doesn't necessarily mean genetic
engineering (though that's also a possibility). I don't know if it's
something particular about the locale, but I doubt it. Most large-scale
commerical growers of any produce crop plant the same narrow range of
varieties, regardless of where they are in the country.

'Mericans, for whatever mysterious reason, would rather buy big fruit that
looks pretty and tastes like crap, than smaller and more flavorful
varieties.

DrLith wrote:
'Mericans, for whatever mysterious reason, would rather buy big fruit that looks pretty and tastes like crap, than smaller and more flavorful varieties.

Much to my displeasure. I don't buy strawberries much for that very reason.
:(

-Dirt-

DrLith wrote:
'Mericans, for whatever mysterious reason, would rather buy big fruit that looks pretty and tastes like crap, than smaller and more flavorful varieties.

Much to my displeasure. I don't buy strawberries much for that very reason.
:(

-Dirt-

DrLith wrote: "jwb" <jwb3333remove@excite.com> wrote in message news:GYMoe.21278$IX4.2595@twister.nyc.rr.com... "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net... I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region? I think it's just the fact that a strawberry is a VERY hit or miss fruit. I think the California fruit grown for export (either abroad or x-country shipping) is bred for maximized size and longevity, not flavor. That's a process that's been going on in commercial produce using old-fashioned selective breeding as well, so it doesn't necessarily mean genetic engineering (though that's also a possibility).

It was the melon flavour that made me wonder about the GM element. (Breeding
for big fast growing fruit with a high water content.)


I don't know if it's something particular about the locale, but I doubt it. Most large-scale commerical growers of any produce crop plant the same narrow range of varieties, regardless of where they are in the country. 'Mericans, for whatever mysterious reason, would rather buy big fruit that looks pretty and tastes like crap, than smaller and more flavorful varieties.

It's possible to do both, of course. But it probably involves more time and
especially more time spent growing in the sun than growers want to allow
for!

I'll stick to the Californian navel oranges, they're much more palatable. :)

Tai

DrLith wrote: "jwb" <jwb3333remove@excite.com> wrote in message news:GYMoe.21278$IX4.2595@twister.nyc.rr.com... "Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net... I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region? I think it's just the fact that a strawberry is a VERY hit or miss fruit. I think the California fruit grown for export (either abroad or x-country shipping) is bred for maximized size and longevity, not flavor. That's a process that's been going on in commercial produce using old-fashioned selective breeding as well, so it doesn't necessarily mean genetic engineering (though that's also a possibility).

It was the melon flavour that made me wonder about the GM element. (Breeding
for big fast growing fruit with a high water content.)


I don't know if it's something particular about the locale, but I doubt it. Most large-scale commerical growers of any produce crop plant the same narrow range of varieties, regardless of where they are in the country. 'Mericans, for whatever mysterious reason, would rather buy big fruit that looks pretty and tastes like crap, than smaller and more flavorful varieties.

It's possible to do both, of course. But it probably involves more time and
especially more time spent growing in the sun than growers want to allow
for!

I'll stick to the Californian navel oranges, they're much more palatable. :)

Tai

"Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net... The other week I bought some strawberries not realising they were imported from California. I do check labels but didn't think to in this case as we get aus. strawberries all year round. We do get some US fruit and Mexican mangoes and I buy Californian navel oranges in the australian off season because I prefer them to valencias. These were strawberries were expensive which would normally have put me off but I needed some and was in a hurry
so I splurged. Anyway, I didn't realise the strawberries weren't home grown until DS4 rejected them as tasting 'funny'. They were sweet but tasted like a cross between melon and watery strawberry without the usual intensity and tartness. I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region?

With all the extra rain we've had in last few months, seems like most local
strawberries have been getting more water then sun this year. I haven't seen
as many tasty ones in the stores here, not like usual years. Although, even
with the usual crop, you'd probably notice the difference in the taste. What
we get here are more like Arnold-berries... strawberries on steroids. You do
get a watery kiwi, watermelon tasting batch on occasion.

"Tai" <tainuiti@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3ghjiqFcdp6gU1@individual.net... The other week I bought some strawberries not realising they were imported from California. I do check labels but didn't think to in this case as we get aus. strawberries all year round. We do get some US fruit and Mexican mangoes and I buy Californian navel oranges in the australian off season because I prefer them to valencias. These were strawberries were expensive which would normally have put me off but I needed some and was in a hurry
so I splurged. Anyway, I didn't realise the strawberries weren't home grown until DS4 rejected them as tasting 'funny'. They were sweet but tasted like a cross between melon and watery strawberry without the usual intensity and tartness. I was wondering whether they might be frankenfood and whether US strawberries taste significantly different from region to region?

With all the extra rain we've had in last few months, seems like most local
strawberries have been getting more water then sun this year. I haven't seen
as many tasty ones in the stores here, not like usual years. Although, even
with the usual crop, you'd probably notice the difference in the taste. What
we get here are more like Arnold-berries... strawberries on steroids. You do
get a watery kiwi, watermelon tasting batch on occasion.