"Doug Kanter" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dee Randall" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Doug Kanter" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> "Nancy Young" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>
>>>> "Doug Kanter" > wrote
>>>>
>>>>> If the variety's the same year-round, then you're the victim of a
>>>>> syndrome I can't explain. I'm from Rochester, and I'm acquainted with
>>>>> a guy who works for one of the largest apple growers in the Northeast,
>>>>> Fowler Farms. He says that at this time of year, they *always* have
>>>>> enough nice, new autumn apples to ship to NJ, Long Island, or New
>>>>> England. Here, we can get about a dozen varieties, all from the
>>>>> current harvest, all grown within 50 miles of here.
>>>>
>>>> We do actually still have orchards here, believe it or not, but I don't
>>>> know
>>>> that they sell to the major chains.
>>>>
>>>>> My company's headquarters is in Long Island, and when I visit, I'm
>>>>> usually asked to bring apples. Like you, they only seem to get the
>>>>> lamest varieties, usually from Washington State or overseas, and only
>>>>> those which ship well, but don't have much taste.
>>>>>
>>>>> Check the link below and see if there's a Wegman's supermarket nearby.
>>>>> If so, check there for apples with Fowler Farms stickers on them. If
>>>>> the stores are anything like the ones here, you'll be pleasantly
>>>>> surprised. And, if they have Cortland apples, be prepared to eat
>>>>> nothing but apples for a couple of months. Beginning in a month or so,
>>>>> you'll may notice a shinier wax on the apples than you see now.
>>>>> Obviously, this is because the harvest is over and the effort begins
>>>>> to preserve freshness as long as possible. Fowler does a pretty good
>>>>> job of this. Empire apples tend to last well into the spring.
>>>>> Cortlands taper off sooner.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for that great story. I will go to Wegman's ... not only do I
>>>> live
>>>> about 15 minutes from a new Whole Foods, I live about 15 miles or less
>>>> of 2 different Wegman's. I'll make it over there one day this week,
>>>> not
>>>> just for the apples.
>>>>
>>>> nancy
>>>>
>>>
>>> You've never been to a Wegman's? Yikes! Here, when guests come to town,
>>> it's considered de rigeur to take them to the flagship store, which is a
>>> truly astounding place. The rest of the grocery industry wishes they
>>> could emulate Wegman's. It's a mystery why they don't even try.
>>
>> It's not a mystery to me. People here seem to LOVE Walmart shopping.
>> When Kroger came in, it wasn't long (maybe 18 months?) until they were
>> gone. Kroger and Walmart and Food Lion are all about the same to me for
>> shopping. Usually the compulsory produce and milk - the rest is cans and
>> boxes.
>> Dee Dee
>>>
>>
>>
>
> That's sad, and indicates a lack of any visionaries among the management
> at those supermarkets. Here, Wal Mart has opened near a number of Wegman's
> stores, but it hasn't made much of a dent in their business. Our local
> newspaper does a sample price shop every so often, visiting Wal Mart,
> Wegman's, and Tops, a third competitor. Without fail, Wegman's is always
> the cheapest. And, unlike WM, the produce doesn't look like it's been
> thrown against the wall before being put on display.
>
> What's really interesting is that people around here constantly comment
> that Wegman's is more expensive. The stores are spotless, the help is
> helpful, the selection's amazing, etc., so it gives the impression of
> BEING expensive. It's interesting how perceptions work.

Our local
> newspaper does a sample price shop every so often, visiting Wal Mart,
> Wegman's, and Tops, a third competitor. Without fail, Wegman's is always
> the cheapest.

Incredible! No accounting for taste! Di-GUST-o
Dee Dee