Apples from WalMart Taste and Smell Funny

1. 81

   GmaGoldieposted 13 years ago

   I noticed I no longer care for the taste of apples which have long been a staple of my diet.  Today I took the time to smell my apple and it smells like a musky all suit of clothing.  What is it with apples?  Is there a coating that they are not informing of us?
   
   HELP!  Inquiring minds MUST know.  What am I smelling - more importantly - what am I eating?!

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      bgamallposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Beef from McDonalds smells funny too. Nasty.

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         Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ever since my kids saw that movie Fast Food Nation ,McD'S become M'Poo's in our house, nasty

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   2. 0

      askahealerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I always buy organic apples.  Unfortunately, the one period of time where the local Walmart had organic apples, they were mealy.  For me, almost nothing sold by Walmart should be eaten unless it's the few organic products they carry.  Almost everything has been dipped, sprayed or had ingredients like MSG or high fructose corn syrup added.

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2. 63

   Mishaposted 13 years ago

   I think visiting a nearest farmers market would be a wise thing to do...

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      recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunately the dipping starts at the farm - so - any apple you might buy out of the narrow 'season' will have been dipped to keep it in good nick.

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         Mishaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         IDK, may be the farmers my wife buys apples from do wash them before sale - they taste and smell like apples

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3. 60

   recommend1posted 13 years ago

   When I had a little to do with apples - they were/are commonly 'dipped' in an anti-fungicide that increases their shelf life by months.  The advice on the can is that this can be washed off before eating.  I seem to recall that before this apples were coated with an ultra thin layer of wax, but this may have been the anti-fungus stuff before it was made un-noticeable.

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4. 60

   recommend1posted 13 years ago

   I'm sure they do - and I don't know that the anti-fungus dip is harmful anyway, or if peeling the apple removes the chemical entirely.
   
   Do you know it was common for there to be near 100 different apple varieties of all different tastes and textures before the current bland varieties that grow easier and faster arrived.  My father grew around 20 different varieties (1940's to 1970's) and often talked about especially good varieties that had already dissapeared by that time under commercial pressures.

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5. 81

   GmaGoldieposted 13 years ago

   Thank you all very much!  I don't like the anti fungus stuff or the wax.  I would pay more for pure apples - you are right - I must make a trip to the apple orchard. 
   
   Oh, this makes me long for fall!

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6. 82

   Aya Katzposted 13 years ago

   Apples from Walmart all look identical. Apples from my trees come in all shapes and sizes. They also have worms. But protein is good for us!

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      recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      There are many ways of protecting apples from worms, fungus etc - without the need for chemicals.  The whitewash band (or black sticky tar) around the bottom of fruit tree trunks are to stop the wingless moth climbing up to lay the eggs in the first place. Soapy water sprayed onto greenfly drowns them and I can't remember the rest but I am sure they are all hiding online somewhere.

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7. 73

   relacheposted 13 years ago

   I've never regretted buying organic fruit.  Not once.  Nor do I regret never shopping at Wal-Mart.
   
   Did you know that commercially-produced apples have some of the highest concentrations of pesticides of all fruits produced by Big Agriculture?

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8. 84

   rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

   Apples are 4th on the Environmental Working Group's 2010 list of foods to buy organic, or at a local farmers market, where you can ask the farmer if he uses pesticides. It's a list which is updated each year, called the Dirty Dozen. Apples are high in pesticide residue. Celery is #1, #2-peaches #3-strawberries.
   you can download a list to avoid and to buy.
   http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php
   
   you can also check theses sites to find out where you can locate farmer's markets/organic produce in your area.
   http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?pd=Home
   http://www.localharvest.org/

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9. 74

   Eaglekiwiposted 13 years ago

   Why is organic food so much more expensive?

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   1. 84

      rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Organic farmers don't receive government subsidies to reduce the cost of farming and production. Actually organic food probably better reflects the true price of growing food, and it's real food in contrast to some of the junk, which is more like food stuff.
      
      Organic farming is more labor intensive and time consuming.
      
      Those are a couple of reasons I can think of off the top of my head.

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         recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         The main reason of course is that the whole intensive huge scale chemical farming thing is about cheaper food - not for our benefit, but to make more profit.  And cheaper means MUCH MUCH cheaper, a factor that is not reflected in shop food prices.

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            rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            yes.. nor is the cost of environmental clean up reflected in the cost of cheap food - that is passed on to tax payers.

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         Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Rebekah ,I really confess I didnt relise that about Govt subsides not being available.
         
         Incredible when they are supposed to be behind health and 'the green movement'.
         I understand the First Lady Michelle Obama has an agreement with Walmart to reduce salt and perservatives  in many of their canned foods,while maintaining prices for affordabilty etc ,so thats a positive step.
         
         I know when I was a young mother with three growing sons ,I just could not afford to buy organic ,but we did eventually makes some good changes i.e free range hens, vege garden, fruit trees etc,plus traded with other mums in the neighborhood.
         
         Thanks again for your informative post

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10. 83

    camloposted 13 years ago

    I never shop at cheap supermarkets, and especially not for fruit and vegetables. It's all chemically treated.

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11. 61

    Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years ago

    They taste and smell that way for a reason.  God is punishing the USA for electing Obama.

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12. 84

    rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

    of course, why didn't LL come and let us know!

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13. 62

    Woman Of Courageposted 13 years ago

    Have anyone tried the gala apples in the bags at Walmart? These are the only brand apples I will purchase at Walmart, and they taste delicious to me without any funny smell.

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       recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       GALA apples were developed for factory style farming and are likely to be among the most pesticide and fungicide contaminated apples you can buy. 
       
       I seem to recall they were cross-bred or 'modified' to be especially resistant to specific deseases that are mostly only a problem when grown in huge quantities all the same.
       
       Cauliflowers, and the white broccoli that look like cauiflower had the same problem - grown as the only crop on hundreds of acres of vast treeless and hedgeless fields in Thanet England an occasional desease, caulifower mosaic I believe it is called, obliterated the whole crop one season - never happened again thanks to chemicals, but increased the chemicals on cauliflowers for the consumer.

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       1. 74

          Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          I find that so disgusting ,all that pesticide!!
          
          Who decided that was ok for our health?
          
          So irresponsible

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             Mishaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             Who gives subsidies? Answer this one, and you will answer your own one

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                Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                Guess the other question now for me is,
                
                What is the role of the F.D.A, and are they not accountable to the people, ie decisions they make regarding food standards etc?
                
                If its all about greed and $$'s,Im mad!!
                
                
                Protest ,grrr,damn

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                recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

                The label on the can for the apple preservative dip that I looked over (and passed on buying) when I was responsible for storing several tons of apples of about fifteen different varieties was  Monsanto

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          Woman Of Courageposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Thanks for sharing. I notice the other apples in Walmart has no flavor at all. It's awful how harmful pesticides are sprayed on the fruits. I have never purchased organic foods yet. It's very expensive.

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14. 84

    rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

    Eaglekiwi, it's quite a hot topic and there's much the everyday consumer doesn't know or realize about our food, and where this farm subsidy money really goes. Most of our food is produced by huge multi-national, agri-business corporations. I'm sure you've also heard of Monsanto? If not, it gets kind of alarming when you start reading about who has all the money.
    a couple links:
    http://www.ewg.org/farmsubsidies
    http://subversify.com/2011/01/14/why-ag … s-farmers/

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       Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Fantastic links!
       Wow, I will definately be spending some time reading up and sending some info on.
       
       Im just gobsmacked!

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15. 60

    recommend1posted 13 years ago

    Interesting chat with my Chinese half - she points out that our washing up liquid is labelled as being the recommended cleaner for fruit and vegetables to remove pesticide residues and preservatives from the skins of the fruit. Now I know why the wash liquid seems to have no smells or colours put into it
    
    
    I also realise that most Chinese friends peel all their fruit.

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    1. 74

       Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I confess I buy the wash liquid that smells the best,so Im probably not going to wash my food with it ,hehe.
       
       I  grew up being taught that all the natural vitamins were just under the skin,in fact we were not expected to waste much of the fruit at all, but I guess that was then and not now.
       
       Even if we grow our own fruit n vegies ,the soil is probably filled with contaminates.
       There is truth afterall in the saying:
       
       We reap what we sow

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