So why is it that when you go to a market, even a good one, you have to sort through the fresh vegetables to find the useable ones? I mean, if you go to a hardware store you don't (usually) have to sort through the bolts to find the ones that aren't bent, or don't have full threads or whatever. One of those obnoxious things we have to deal with just because it "has always been that way". And yes, I know our markets are way ahead of the rest of the world, but that does not mean there is no room for improvement.

 

people are just weird. there is probably nothing wrong with most of them. i even pick through packaged goods. if a container is bent , scratched , sticky , i look for one that is not.

 

All the major corporations have all the best produce delivered to their plants... we just get the leftovers now. When is the last time you've seen a really decent orange at the market?

 

when i was in florida

 

All our best produce is exported to Japan and EU. Didn't you know that?

 

Were you at the market Dayton? if so here's your answer Cokeybill

 

and this orange came with just a little extra kick

 

Hmm, never noticed. Probably because if it's not stuffed with meat or cheese, I'm not having it.

 

when is the last time a screw went bad from shipping or sitting too long?

 

Not true.
Large vegetable processors require larger,bulkier varieties with not so much attention towards appearance due to them being hacked up and dredged in god knows what sauces.
Fresh market (grocery) varieties are produced primarily for shelf life and appearance in that order.(notice I didn't say flavor)
Veggies are getting hybridized for shelf life, disease and virus resistance to the point that flavor is really suffering. That is why the road side stands and home garden goods alway taste so much better, because they use truer heirloom type varieties and they field ripen rather force ripen.