giant fruit!!!

@Maggiepie (7816)
United States
December 22, 2012 6:18am CST
[b]Has anyone else been seeing oranges the size of small grapefruits? How about green grapes which rival the size of golf balls, or at least ping pong balls? And who is forced to try & save half an apple as the whole apple is so huge it overwhelms one? Worse, bananas so plump & long one can't manage the entire fruit, & we all know how well opened bananas keep! Well, I have currently got all of the above (oops--I did eat the apple)! Such large servings are great if one has someone with whom to share, but I LIVE ALONE. Guess how much food winds up in the trash. Guess how much money I'm forced to waste! So, have you seen these mega-fruits? Can you buy a grape that will fill up your palm? What are your thoughts on this phenomenon? Maggiepie[/b]
4 people like this
15 responses
• United States
22 Dec 12
I've certainly seen the little oranges called cuties! I did see some green grapes that were rather large. I shudder to think of what type hybrid or engineering went into the creation of those fruits. I know that when I pick fruit from a tree or vine that I don't see such large ones! I never throw fruit away. If you have a juicer, then combine the fruits into a juice. If you have a food processor, grind, bag, and freeze. Toss the fruit into pancake batter, cake mix, muffin mix to add bulk and fiber. Toss into a smoothie! Yep, always a way to use up the food without wasting any.
2 people like this
• United States
23 Dec 12
Hosea is one of the minor characters in the Bible and I call myself his mate! If you read this story, you will really wonder why that is so. I guess if you read the story in the Bible and you really wanna know, then I'll explain. Cuties are those really miniature oranges that are about the size of a small lime. They are the size of those oranges in the can that are called mandarin oranges. I was born in 1953...happy birthday early! I always say that if the foods and beverages are going to decrease my lifespan then that is okay with me, but take it off the last few years. The older I get, the harder those years become! Pass the fried chicken!! I always get a kick outta who funds those studies that say a particular item is bad for you, though. The tea company may be the one who funded the study that says coffee is bad for your health. The dental association may be the one who funds the story that says chocolate is bad for your health. It always is some ulterior motive and if you follow the money, you'll find the motive! I love bananas and I'm gonna keep on eating them!!
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
23 Dec 12
[b]Oh! That Hosea! I did think there was something biblical-sounding to it. My mom was a Sunday school teacher, but I think I should reread that story--which book is it in? I need a refresher course! So, "Cuties" really are that small, eh...if they're really sweet, & I can afford them, I'll switch! Thanks for the early b'day wish! Which is your month & day? If my leakish brain will hold the info, I'll send you a hi-5, too! LOL Here's to fried chicken & bananas! (Here I'd like to put a toasting icon. buuuut...) Maggiepie[/b]
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Dec 12
September 24 is my birthday...it'll be a big one this year! Yeah! The story of Hosea is in the book by his name, Hosea. I love that story because it is a story of redemption. Hosea is protrayed as a redeemer who loves in spite of it all. I call myself Hoseasmate because I will be counted as those who are the Bride of Christ...or the mate of the redeemer! Oh well, it makes for a good discussion for a screen name, anyway?
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
22 Dec 12
Saw them and it's hard to believe you can't eat them because you live alone. You can always make a fruit salad out of it and save it for 2-3 days as well. I doubt these kind of fruits are healthy since it's seldom nature that makes them that way but human being. My thoughts? Why do people always manipulate fruit, nature, vegetables. How come everything needs to be bigger year after year. Not only the amount we eat and drink, but also fruit, bread, pie, cookies. I think only the milkyway is still the same size as 40 years ago in my country, the rest of the bars is about 6 times bigger by now.
2 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
23 Dec 12
[b]WakeUpKitty: Even fruit salad can spoil! By the third day, it's rotted. I think that by & large food engineers think they'll feed more people, & I like to approach folks with charity 'til they prove I shouldn't. If you check you'll find that others who live alone have the same problem--even if the portions can be made small, as stores optimize profits (their right to do so) by marketing to the overwhelming majority, who don't live alone. Folks such as I simply have to find ways to cope. Maggiepie[/b]
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
23 Dec 12
[b]HOSEASMATE: LOL! Now, now, must there be sinister reasons behind everything? I doubt the food designers have evil intent (though greed surely is a part of it for some). As my priest once advised me, "Assume the best about everyone & their motives, be charitable. You'll just go crazy otherwise!" He also directed us to "Forgive...but don't forget. That would only cause you more pain to associate with incorrigibles." How I miss Father Arjen! In the 50's, just by the way, I'd never heard of toilet paper. Our farm had a 2-seater outhouse, & we used old Sears & Roebuck catalogs...& nightly baths... Maggiepie[/b]
• United States
23 Dec 12
What? Making stuff bigger? That is so that the price can be raised and if you can find a roll of toilet paper from back in the 1950's you'll see that the super sized roll of toilet paper that you pay 10 times more for now, is really the same size as the original roll of toilet paper from years ago. Yep super size mine!
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
22 Dec 12
yup I have seen them and we usually buy the grapes sometimes we have ot thro them away but the do last quit awhileso they get ate. I can see where one eperson couldnt eat the whole thing! BUt they do have smaller fruit in the stores here.
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
22 Dec 12
Yup sure is LOL Merry CHristmas TO you too!
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
22 Dec 12
[b]The red seedless grapes are regular size, but green is just huge. Anyway, several other fruits are coming in ever increasing sizes. It's kinda weird to eat A GRAPE & need 6 to 8 bites to finish it! LOL! Merry Christmas! Maggiepie[/b]
1 person likes this
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
22 Dec 12
With all the advancements on genetics when it comes to various food stuffs, we're able to develop all the great huge fruits and veggies. I don't buy a lot of fresh fruits because like you I live alone....well almost- with the four cats and three dogs I'm not totally alone! But I hate wasting the foods too. I end up passing on the overages to one of the soup kitchens...free meals for the needy, homeless helpers...well you know what I am driving at. But I prefer to have the food go to those who would appreciate the extras. I also will hand it out to pan handlers that are at various stop lights so that they get something to eat. I also will take it to school and leave it out for other students to grab on their way to class. Also any extra prepackaged foods get donated to our local food bank. I was given a jar of marshmallow cream, which I wouldn't use in this lifetime or next so it's going to the food bank. It's wonderful hearing from you again. I haven't been feeling too well myself, this bridge thing in my heart really does create a life change! Anyhow between the stress of the end of the college semester and then Bill had a problem with an infection in his hand I was so stressed out that I ended up in the ER too. Like one of Bill's friends stated "the only thing golden about your golden years is your urine!" Anyhow, it is totally wonderful to hear from you again!!
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
23 Dec 12
[b]I did consider the needy, but would they accept A stalk of grapes? Half a banana? When I had roomies, we did give to those places. Even office party food (great food at my library!), but things have changed so much for me. I eat a lot of frozen & canned goods. now, as fresh fruit is an expensive treat. OY! I'll take that marshmallow stuff! LOL! I hear you. My chest hurts, even though I have a pacemaker, now. And I'm not even going to begin on the external trachea!!! So, I'm here, & I'm breathing. Tell you what: let's make a habit of that, okay? Merry Christmas! Maggiepie[/b]
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
22 Dec 12
I have not seen fruit that large. I would be suspicious of what they treated the plants with to get the fruit that big. I haven't bought much fruit lately, I crave oranges and especially honey tangerines. I can't find honey tangerines, only the little sour ones or the expensive clementines which are also sour this year. And the oranges, no matter where they are from, are not sweet and juicy but sour and must be old because they won't separate well once you peel them--the sections won't come apart easily but tear and are so messy! I'm really disappointed and wonder why the citrus is so sour this year. It was the same in the summer. I'm glad you're posting again, you must be feeling much better!
2 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
22 Dec 12
[b]"Better" is a relative term in my case, but I'm okay, thanks. You? All the fruit I'm getting is fresh, flavorful & extremely yummy. I've not previously heard of "honey tangerines." I hate sour, so I'd love to try them. The ones we got when I was small were wonderful, but now all I try are awful. Anyway, you have a merry Christmas, dear! Maggiepie[/b]
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Dec 12
I have seen an orange as large as a grapefruit. It was good too, but I think all four of us kids and daddy shared it! Daddy had brought it home from California if I am not mistaken! All I want to know is if they tasted good or were geneticaly modified!! lol..
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
22 Dec 12
[b]Hi, Mac! I don't know if they were genetically tinkered with or not. but I can report their tastes are super good! The oranges were first for me, but it's spreading, now.... Merry Christmas! Maggiepie[/b]
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
23 Dec 12
[b]That should be illegal! It is unGodly! Guess we need to start hoarding seeds, now. Shoot. When will these buttinskies just leave things the hell ALONE?! AAAAAAARRRRGH!!! Maggiepie[/b]
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
22 Dec 12
I have seen large fruit this year, and have thought that some places must have had super growing seasons. With the bananas, I would freeze half and then mush it up and eat it like ice cream when I can only eat half. I cut the apple in half and coat the other half with either orange or lemon juice and seal in a container, or I couk it. The grapes are pretty big, but you can just eat fewer of them.
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
23 Dec 12
[b]Good advice, except for the grapes. One must buy a huge amount, even if one only buys a single stalk! I do know a woman who freezes hers & treats them as grape popsicles. I tried it...nah.... Anyway thanks, & Merry Christmas! Maggiepie[/b]
@BarBaraPrz (45217)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
22 Dec 12
I remember seeing oranges as big as grapefruit when I was a teenager, so it's not a new phenomenon. However, a couple months ago, I bought what I thought were oranges (prepackaged on the discount rack and therefore unidentified) but when I peeled the first one, it turned out to be a grapefruit! Which was ok, as that's how I eat grapefruit anyway, but I had set my tastebuds for orange...
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45217)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
22 Dec 12
Happy Christmas to you too.
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
22 Dec 12
[b]Ha! Sorry, but that's just funny! As it happens, I prefer grapefruit (in any form), though oranges are good when I'm in the mood for one. I do understand about "setting" one's taste buds; I do that a lot. Re grapefruit, though, sadly, it conflicts with some of my meds, so I go without 'til I just GOTTA have some.... Thanks for writing! And Happy Christmas! Maggiepie[/b]
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
23 Dec 12
Only the grapes. Which I bought and don't really like. Takes a lot more time to peel. Those huge fruits would worry me. What kind of things are they doing to make them like that?
1 person likes this
@tshihmin2 (186)
• Malaysia
23 Dec 12
You eat those large fruits? Oh, my goodness! You have to stay away from those large fruits. Those fruits grown not in a natural way. Syntactic and chemicals were put into the plantation, that's why they can grow so large. By the way, if you eat those fruits, they can affect your health. It is not recommended for anyone to eat large fruits.
@shaqziad (655)
• Malaysia
23 Dec 12
there's lots of big and mega-size fruits nowadays. It makes me wonder who's hands was playing with the nature of our food. Big is not always economically relevant to present situation. On the news yesterday, it was stated that more people are living alone compared to 10 years ago. If i remember correctly, the stat said more than 4 people living in a house 10 years ago, but it falls to mere 1.89 people per house now. If each house bought big fruit and can't finish it before they gone rotten, just count how much fruit was turn into waste. Better go feed the monkey behind my house.
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
22 Dec 12
No, I have seen these mega fruits, I was actually saying the other day how small the portions have become.
1 person likes this
@dyffer (75)
• Philippines
23 Dec 12
I'm a fruit lover...I would very much like to eat mega fruits if it will be available...
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
23 Dec 12
wow giant!!! were they planted and grew naturally? I mean no some chemicals were put as it was growing. but yes, natural grown gigantic fruits are great. I like them. This morning I went to my land lady's backyard and picked, giant carambolas or star fruit. I like them so much and specially now that it is very cold here it is good source of vitamin C. that I am sure that nothing was used to have that kind of produce.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Dec 12
We buy fresh, organic and, generally, local fruits and veggies. They are all what one would likely classify as being "normal-sized." So, I really am not familiar with the "mega-fruit" phenomenon. If it really is too much for you, there is always the option of freezing the remainder so that you are not in the position of tossing the food. You could also consider drying the leftovers if you have a food dehydrator.