Check your produce!
 

Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up this
video, this seems to be a common problem.

http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0

Check your produce!
 

On Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 3:38:57 AM UTC-5, Julie Bove wrote:
> Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up this
> video, this seems to be a common problem.
>
> http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0

And in bananas as reported by Harry Belafonte in the song!! ;-)

John Kuthe...

Check your produce!
 

On Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 2:38:57 AM UTC-6, Julie Bove wrote:
> Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up this
> video, this seems to be a common problem.
>
> http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0

Not uncommon...just run cool water over all grapes, cherries, etc., gets rid of spiders, some of the ever-present pesticides, dirt, and other stuff you don't want to read or hear about.
Drain well using colander after washing, air-dry for a while and refrigerate.
====

Check your produce!
 

On Sat, 11 Jun 2016 01:38:49 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up this
>video, this seems to be a common problem.
>
>http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0

Thanks for that. I just found a wildebeest in my grapes!

Check your produce!
 

On 6/11/2016 2:21 PM, Roy wrote:
> On Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 2:38:57 AM UTC-6, Julie Bove wrote:
>> Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up this
>> video, this seems to be a common problem.
>>
>> http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0
>
> Not uncommon...just run cool water over all grapes, cherries, etc., gets rid of spiders, some of the ever-present pesticides, dirt, and other stuff you don't want to read or hear about.
> Drain well using colander after washing, air-dry for a while and refrigerate.
> ====
>
Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
who knows where. Obviously whatever farm/vineyard they came from didn't
bother to *rinse* them well before packing them in lovely plastic
containers to send to Costco. That alone would give me pause.

Jill

Check your produce!
 

On Sat, 11 Jun 2016 07:15:04 -0700 (PDT), John Kuthe
> wrote:

>On Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 3:38:57 AM UTC-5, Julie Bove wrote:
>> Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up this
>> video, this seems to be a common problem.
>>
>> http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0
>
>And in bananas as reported by Harry Belafonte in the song!! ;-)
>
>John Kuthe...

It was a "deadly black tarantula"

koko

--

Food is our common ground, a universal experience
James Beard

Check your produce!
 

On Sat, 11 Jun 2016 19:08:27 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

>On 6/11/2016 2:21 PM, Roy wrote:
>> On Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 2:38:57 AM UTC-6, Julie Bove wrote:
>>> Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up this
>>> video, this seems to be a common problem.
>>>
>>> http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0
>>
>> Not uncommon...just run cool water over all grapes, cherries, etc., gets rid of spiders, some of the ever-present pesticides, dirt, and other stuff you don't want to read or hear about.
>> Drain well using colander after washing, air-dry for a while and refrigerate.
>> ====
>>
>Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
>bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
>who knows where. Obviously whatever farm/vineyard they came from didn't
>bother to *rinse* them well before packing them in lovely plastic
>containers to send to Costco. That alone would give me pause.
>
>Jill
they've got legs and use them. I doubt they rinsed one tiny bunch at
a time and then immediately packed them in the box.
Janet US

Check your produce!
 

On 2016-06-11 7:08 PM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 6/11/2016 2:21 PM, Roy wrote:

> Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
> bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
> who knows where. Obviously whatever farm/vineyard they came from didn't
> bother to *rinse* them well before packing them in lovely plastic
> containers to send to Costco. That alone would give me pause.
>

It's not a matter of negligence that they did not rinse them when they
were packaged. That would make them wet and more likely to go bad.

Check your produce!
 

On 6/11/2016 9:09 PM, Janet B wrote:
> On Sat, 11 Jun 2016 19:08:27 -0400, jmcquown >
> wrote:
>
>> On 6/11/2016 2:21 PM, Roy wrote:
>>> On Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 2:38:57 AM UTC-6, Julie Bove wrote:
>>>> Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up this
>>>> video, this seems to be a common problem.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0
>>>
>>> Not uncommon...just run cool water over all grapes, cherries, etc., gets rid of spiders, some of the ever-present pesticides, dirt, and other stuff you don't want to read or hear about.
>>> Drain well using colander after washing, air-dry for a while and refrigerate.
>>> ====
>>>
>> Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
>> bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
>> who knows where. Obviously whatever farm/vineyard they came from didn't
>> bother to *rinse* them well before packing them in lovely plastic
>> containers to send to Costco. That alone would give me pause.
>>
>> Jill
> they've got legs and use them. I doubt they rinsed one tiny bunch at
> a time and then immediately packed them in the box.
> Janet US
>
I don't know a thing about where the grapes were packaged. It didn't
appear to be a "tiny" bunch of grapes to me. They were off the stems,
from what I saw. Stuffed in a plastic container.

This does, however, illustrate why I do not buy fruit or produce in bags
and containers.

Jill

Check your produce!
 

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 6/11/2016 9:09 PM, Janet B wrote:
>> On Sat, 11 Jun 2016 19:08:27 -0400, jmcquown >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On 6/11/2016 2:21 PM, Roy wrote:
>>>> On Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 2:38:57 AM UTC-6, Julie Bove wrote:
>>>>> Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up
>>>>> this
>>>>> video, this seems to be a common problem.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0
>>>>
>>>> Not uncommon...just run cool water over all grapes, cherries, etc.,
>>>> gets rid of spiders, some of the ever-present pesticides, dirt, and
>>>> other stuff you don't want to read or hear about.
>>>> Drain well using colander after washing, air-dry for a while and
>>>> refrigerate.
>>>> ====
>>>>
>>> Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
>>> bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
>>> who knows where. Obviously whatever farm/vineyard they came from didn't
>>> bother to *rinse* them well before packing them in lovely plastic
>>> containers to send to Costco. That alone would give me pause.
>>>
>>> Jill
>> they've got legs and use them. I doubt they rinsed one tiny bunch at
>> a time and then immediately packed them in the box.
>> Janet US
>>
> I don't know a thing about where the grapes were packaged. It didn't
> appear to be a "tiny" bunch of grapes to me. They were off the stems,
> from what I saw. Stuffed in a plastic container.
>
> This does, however, illustrate why I do not buy fruit or produce in bags
> and containers.

These days the grapes here are always in a bag or container. As is all of
the Costco produce.

Check your produce!
 

On 6/11/2016 9:16 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2016-06-11 7:08 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
>> bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
>> who knows where. Obviously whatever farm/vineyard they came from didn't
>> bother to *rinse* them well before packing them in lovely plastic
>> containers to send to Costco. That alone would give me pause.
>>
>
> It's not a matter of negligence that they did not rinse them when they
> were packaged. That would make them wet and more likely to go bad.
>
>
Not if they allowed them to dry out before they were put into plastic
containers. If they'd rinsed the grapes before packaging, voila, no
spiders. Don't try to turn this into a Julie thing.

Jill

Check your produce!
 

On 6/11/2016 9:36 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
>

>> I don't know a thing about where the grapes were packaged. It didn't
>> appear to be a "tiny" bunch of grapes to me. They were off the stems,
>> from what I saw. Stuffed in a plastic container.
>>
>> This does, however, illustrate why I do not buy fruit or produce in
>> bags and containers.
>
> These days the grapes here are always in a bag or container. As is all
> of the Costco produce.

I prefer it that way, especially for chrries. Id often see people
picking through the boxes of cherries while picking out the ones they
want. I don't particularly want to eat cherries that have been handled
by a dozen people.

Check your produce!
 

"jmcquown" > wrote in message
...
> On 6/11/2016 9:16 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>> On 2016-06-11 7:08 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>>
>>> Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
>>> bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
>>> who knows where. Obviously whatever farm/vineyard they came from didn't
>>> bother to *rinse* them well before packing them in lovely plastic
>>> containers to send to Costco. That alone would give me pause.
>>>
>>
>> It's not a matter of negligence that they did not rinse them when they
>> were packaged. That would make them wet and more likely to go bad.
>>
>>
> Not if they allowed them to dry out before they were put into plastic
> containers. If they'd rinsed the grapes before packaging, voila, no
> spiders. Don't try to turn this into a Julie thing.

I don't think it is common practice to rinse produce before packaging.
Exceptions would be bagged salads, some spinach, and cut up things.

Check your produce!
 

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
> On 6/11/2016 9:36 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>
>>> I don't know a thing about where the grapes were packaged. It didn't
>>> appear to be a "tiny" bunch of grapes to me. They were off the stems,
>>> from what I saw. Stuffed in a plastic container.
>>>
>>> This does, however, illustrate why I do not buy fruit or produce in
>>> bags and containers.
>>
>> These days the grapes here are always in a bag or container. As is all
>> of the Costco produce.
>
> I prefer it that way, especially for chrries. Id often see people picking
> through the boxes of cherries while picking out the ones they want. I
> don't particularly want to eat cherries that have been handled by a dozen
> people.

It also allows them to sneak in a few rotten ones. Or perhaps they just
rotted while packaged.

Check your produce!
 

On Sat, 11 Jun 2016 22:00:49 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>On 6/11/2016 9:36 PM, Julie Bove wrote:
>>
>
>>> I don't know a thing about where the grapes were packaged. It didn't
>>> appear to be a "tiny" bunch of grapes to me. They were off the stems,
>>> from what I saw. Stuffed in a plastic container.
>>>
>>> This does, however, illustrate why I do not buy fruit or produce in
>>> bags and containers.
>>
>> These days the grapes here are always in a bag or container. As is all
>> of the Costco produce.
>
>I prefer it that way, especially for chrries. Id often see people
>picking through the boxes of cherries while picking out the ones they
>want. I don't particularly want to eat cherries that have been handled
>by a dozen people.

The market here has cherries in approx. 1 lb plastic bags, grapes
too... no people picking.

Check your produce!
 

On 6/11/2016 8:16 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2016-06-11 7:08 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
>> bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
>> who knows where. Obviously whatever farm/vineyard they came from didn't
>> bother to *rinse* them well before packing them in lovely plastic
>> containers to send to Costco. That alone would give me pause.
>>
> It's not a matter of negligence that they did not rinse them when they
> were packaged. That would make them wet and more likely to go bad.

I'd venture a guess that perhaps 'forced air' is used to psuedo-clean
grapes and other sensitive produce before packaging (?). The use of
water to 'clean/rinse' grapes (and other produce) before shipping is
unwise due to all sorts of sanitary and pathogen-related reasons.

I've heard/read that it's not uncommon for tarantulas to be found in
bunches of bananas, also.

Here's an even scarier story, although it does not regard "produce" per
se --- it's about gardening supplies -- and gardening does relate to
produce, heh!!

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2016/05/...4961463679644/

or

http://tinyurl.com/hqb3pqn

As always, that "buyer beware" caveat applies!

Sky

================================
Kitchen Rule #1 - Use the timer!
Kitchen Rule #2 - Cook's choice!
================================

Check your produce!
 

On 6/11/2016 9:37 PM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 6/11/2016 9:16 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>> On 2016-06-11 7:08 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>>
>>> Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
>>> bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
>>> who knows where. Obviously whatever farm/vineyard they came from didn't
>>> bother to *rinse* them well before packing them in lovely plastic
>>> containers to send to Costco. That alone would give me pause.
>>>
>>
>> It's not a matter of negligence that they did not rinse them when they
>> were packaged. That would make them wet and more likely to go bad.
>>
>>
> Not if they allowed them to dry out before they were put into plastic
> containers. If they'd rinsed the grapes before packaging, voila, no
> spiders. Don't try to turn this into a Julie thing.
>
> Jill

Rinsing may not kill every spider though. Packing grapes is usually
automated with pretty sophisticated equipment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8SpiR9CX4A

http://www.bakeryandsnacks.com/Libra...acking-machine

Check your produce!
 

On 6/11/2016 8:37 PM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 6/11/2016 9:16 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>> On 2016-06-11 7:08 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>>
>>> Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
>>> bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
>>> who knows where. Obviously whatever farm/vineyard they came from didn't
>>> bother to *rinse* them well before packing them in lovely plastic
>>> containers to send to Costco. That alone would give me pause.
>>>
>>
>> It's not a matter of negligence that they did not rinse them when they
>> were packaged. That would make them wet and more likely to go bad.
>>
>>
> Not if they allowed them to dry out before they were put into plastic
> containers. If they'd rinsed the grapes before packaging, voila, no
> spiders. Don't try to turn this into a Julie thing.

This topic/situation is not a "julie thing" - it's simply that use of
water to clean grapes and most other produce before shipment for public
consumption is most unwise! Using water to clean the produce (of many
sorts!) encourages the growth of nasty pathogens to grown and quickly
make the produce unsafe for consumption. IOW, mold/mould would grow
very quickly before vendors can present produce for sale to their customers.

Sky

================================
Kitchen Rule #1 - Use the timer!
Kitchen Rule #2 - Cook's choice!
================================

Check your produce!
 

On Sat, 11 Jun 2016 21:15:34 -0500, Sky >
wrote:
snip
>
>http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2016/05/...4961463679644/
>
snip
>Sky
that one caught my attention when it was in the news. I'm always
rummaging around in garden centers. Yikes!
Janet US

Check your produce!
 

In article >,
says...
>
> On 6/11/2016 2:21 PM, Roy wrote:
> > On Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 2:38:57 AM UTC-6, Julie Bove wrote:
> >> Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up this
> >> video, this seems to be a common problem.
> >>
> >> http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0
> >
> > Not uncommon...just run cool water over all grapes, cherries, etc., gets rid of spiders, some of the ever-present pesticides, dirt, and other stuff you don't want to read or hear about.
> > Drain well using colander after washing, air-dry for a while and refrigerate.
> > ====
> >
> Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
> bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
> who knows where.

Grown and packed in California; it's in the link.

In California, grape growers are using black widow spiders to keep
down insects:


Deadly spiders used to protect Tesco's grapes

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-spiders-used-
protect-Tescos-grapes.html

by VICTORIA FLETCHER, Evening Standard

Tesco is using black widow spiders to kill insects on grapes as an
alternative to pesticides.

The revelation comes after three British women found live black widows
among fruit they bought at different Tesco stores.

The arachnids, which can be lethal, have been introduced to the Tesco
vineyards in California because they keep down insect populations.

The company says its use of the lethal predators is in response to
consumer pressure to increase its green production techniques. Before
they are exported, the grapes are supposedly checked.

At the weekend Stephanie Thorneycroft, from Wimborne, Dorset, discovered
the spider climbing up the side of her colander as she was rinsingthe
grapes in her sink. Last week Noelle Bolzen, from Southport, Merseyside,
found a dead black widow in another bunch of Tesco grapes, while last
month Linda Cooper, from Ferndown, Dorset, was picking out grapes from
her fridge when she found a live spider.

In New Zealand the import of Californian grapes was suspended last year
after four live black widows were found in four months."

Janet UK

Check your produce!
 

On 6/13/2016 12:50 PM, Janet wrote:

> Grown and packed in California; it's in the link.
>
> In California, grape growers are using black widow spiders to keep
> down insects:
>
> Deadly spiders used to protect Tesco's grapes
>
> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-spiders-used-
> protect-Tescos-grapes.html
>
That story, including the names of the women who found the spiders,
first ran back in 2002.

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2517711.stm>

Check your produce!
 

Bruce wrote:
>
> They could have used spiders that pose no threat to humans, but I guess
> that would have taken the fun out of the project.

I was thinking the same thing, Bruce. Any spider will kill and eat
insects. There is no valid reason for choosing black widow spiders.
That makes no sense at all.

Check your produce!
 

Not sure just where it is coming from, but a lot of this has to be
bullshit. Black widows are solitary spiders that like dark,
draft-free, and undisturbed places where they can build webs. Think
the back corner of a garden shed or under the seat of an outhouse.
There are dozens of species of spiders that live and hunt on and in
blossoms and fruit, all of the crab spiders, for example. They are
adapted to ambush hunting in bright, exposed areas visited by flying
insects. It someone wants to encourage spider predation of crop
pests, they are a lot more likely to work than black widows.

Most likely a newsprint version of clickbait in the British tabloid
press.

There are plenty of ways to get spiders into fresh food in transport.
Stacks of pallets left undisturbed, the interior of trucks used for
transport, and sheds or other temporary holding places.

Did any of the articles suggest where one might acquire, say, 10,000
black widow spiders to "guard" a modest sized field of grapes? And
would you like to have your name on the invoice when someone is
bitten; particularly in the U.S.of Lawsuit?

This is nonsense.

On Mon, 13 Jun 2016 17:50:33 +0100, Janet > wrote:

>In article >,
>says...
>>
>> On 6/11/2016 2:21 PM, Roy wrote:
>> > On Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 2:38:57 AM UTC-6, Julie Bove wrote:
>> >> Bothell woman found black widow spider in Costco grapes. In looking up this
>> >> video, this seems to be a common problem.
>> >>
>> >> http://www.kiro7.com/video?videoId=3...deoVersion=1.0
>> >
>> > Not uncommon...just run cool water over all grapes, cherries, etc., gets rid of spiders, some of the ever-present pesticides, dirt, and other stuff you don't want to read or hear about.
>> > Drain well using colander after washing, air-dry for a while and refrigerate.
>> > ====
>> >
>> Pretty scary thing, actually. Sharp eyed child. But then it wasn't a
>> bunch of grapes, it was a *container* of grapes packed and shipped from
>> who knows where.
>
> Grown and packed in California; it's in the link.
>
> In California, grape growers are using black widow spiders to keep
>down insects:
>
>
>Deadly spiders used to protect Tesco's grapes
>
>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-spiders-used-
>protect-Tescos-grapes.html
>
>by VICTORIA FLETCHER, Evening Standard
>
>Tesco is using black widow spiders to kill insects on grapes as an
>alternative to pesticides.
>
>The revelation comes after three British women found live black widows
>among fruit they bought at different Tesco stores.
>
>The arachnids, which can be lethal, have been introduced to the Tesco
>vineyards in California because they keep down insect populations.
>
>The company says its use of the lethal predators is in response to
>consumer pressure to increase its green production techniques. Before
>they are exported, the grapes are supposedly checked.
>
>At the weekend Stephanie Thorneycroft, from Wimborne, Dorset, discovered
>the spider climbing up the side of her colander as she was rinsingthe
>grapes in her sink. Last week Noelle Bolzen, from Southport, Merseyside,
>found a dead black widow in another bunch of Tesco grapes, while last
>month Linda Cooper, from Ferndown, Dorset, was picking out grapes from
>her fridge when she found a live spider.
>
>In New Zealand the import of Californian grapes was suspended last year
>after four live black widows were found in four months."
>
> Janet UK