Would you buy veg with caterpillars on them?

1. 93

   Blond Logicposted 8 years ago

   Would you buy veg with caterpillars on them?
   
   My friend and I have this discussion often because at our supermarket, the cauliflower sometimes has small green caterpillars under the plastic wrap. I refuse to buy it because of this. My friend does buy it. Her logic is, if the caterpillars are there, the cauliflower must be free of pesticides.
   In a time when we don't know what chemical concoctions we are consuming or how manipulated the plant strain is, maybe she is right. I still have a mental block that won't let me buy, what I consider inferior food.
   Which do you prefer? Bug free, pretty but possibly deadly or veg with free protein?
   
   

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2. 80

   peachpurpleposted 8 years ago

   I would rather buy veggies with caterpillars. I also buy mustard greens with holes in the leaves. Your friend is right, less pesticides.

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   1. 93

      Blond Logicposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      In my heart I know she is right but from years of conditioning, it is hard to make that mind shift. Maybe I would feel different if the price was reduced. My cheap side would take over.
      I think we all need to rethink our buying and eating habits. Tx

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      cathylynn99posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      don't you mean fewer pesticides? the grammar nazi who doesn't bother to capitalize anything has struck.

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3. 87

   B. Leekleyposted 8 years ago

   When I was a little kid in the 1940s, it was common to find worms in store-bought corn on the cob and in apples. Now I expect even organic foods to be pest free. But I am not extremely finicky about it.
   
   The caterpillars on the cauliflowers sounds like a mystery waiting for an investigative reporter to solve. At what point, if any, are the cauliflowers free of them? Could they be discouraged without using pesticides? Why doesn't the store simply spray water on them, as the produce departments in the supermarkets here in Kalamazoo do?
   
   My wife and I had lots of fruit flies in our kitchen this summer, but that did not stop us from eating lots of fresh, locally grown fruit.

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   1. 93

      Blond Logicposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      In the area I live, some of the hygiene procedures we are use to don't exist so spraying them isn't an option. Cauliflower and broccoli are quite expensive here and I hate paying top price for bugs.

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4. 62

   thumbi7posted 8 years ago

   I agree with your friend. Those vegetables may not be looking good. But may have less pesticides on them.
   After buying I cut and soak the pieces in salt and turmeric water to get rid of caterpillars

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      Blond Logicposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      My friend soaks it in saltwater. What does the tumeric do? I think I need to reassess the situation and buy it.  Thanks for your answer.

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5. 92

   MarleneBposted 8 years ago

   If you had asked me this question over five years ago, I would have said no I would not buy the vegetables with caterpillars on them. But, I have been growing my own vegetables now for the past five years and bugs don't bother me anymore. I have come to learn that bugs sometimes tell me that the vegetable is ripe and ready to eat. And, I have come to learn that when we grow pesticide-free there will be bugs. I simply remove the bug by plucking it away or cutting out that part of the vegetable. The rest of the veggie is perfectly fine.

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   1. 93

      Blond Logicposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I think many of us are evolving with our expectations surrounding foods. The more we know about what we are eating, the better. Thanks for your response.

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6. 93

   Faceless39posted 8 years ago

   Yeah, that means they're organic. Organic means you know exactly what was done to it: nothing. If bugs will eat them, that's a very good sign! The caterpillars can easily be placed outside (don't kill them!)
   
   The same goes with lawns. If you don't have any weeds or dandelions in your yard, I'm not getting anywhere near it, and neither are my pets, or kids if I had them.

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   1. 93

      Blond Logicposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      That is an interesting angle. I never really thought about the weedless lawn. I will have to mention this to a friend who seems to be plagued by dandelions.
      Next week at the supermarket, I will look at the cauliflower, completely differently. Thanks

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