Do Californians keep the best produce for themselves? (San Diego, Orange: how much, home)

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Do I have to go to California to find truly delicious iceberg lettuce?

[saibot]

Delicious iceberg lettuce is an oxymoron.

I don't know about California "keeping the best produce." I don't think so. But most any fresh fruit or vegetable that is put on a truck and shipped 1000+ miles is no longer going to be at its best when it gets there. There are exceptions. Oranges, avocados can handle it. But lettuce? Better look for some grown near home if you want the highest quality. I do realize this is not possible in some states during some seasons, but that's how it is.

[Mike930]

I think they do in San Diego. There’s a place called Specialty Produce that’s a wholesale warehouse. I know restaurants buy produce from them and they’re open to the public. Most things I get are cheaper there than stores. Plus they’re straight from the local farms as far as I can tell.

When I get produce there, it lasts 2-3x longer than produce I get at the grocery store.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by Mike930

I think they do in San Diego. There’s a place called Specialty Produce that’s a wholesale warehouse. I know restaurants buy produce from them and they’re open to the public. Most things I get are cheaper there than stores. Plus they’re straight from the local farms as far as I can tell.

When I get produce there, it lasts 2-3x longer than produce I get at the grocery store.

The produce I get at the farmer's market in OC is the same. Even greens like lettuce, parsley and cilantro still seem fresh after a week.

[Screenwriter70]

Fresher produce? Hurry up, holidays, and get over with. I must get to California!

[marcopolo666]

Yeah, if you buy it the day it is picked, or the day after, of course it will last longer than the stuff picked a week or 2 ago, sent to a factory to be cleaned, prepped, chopped, packaged, whatever and only then shipped out to be sold.

It's not that it is "kept" or "hoarded" - it's just nature.

If you want fresher produce, buy stuff from your area (or grow it yourself). For years I have been growing my own tomatoes and peaches (and basil and thyme and rosemary and snap peas and ...) because they taste sooooo much better when eaten right after being picked.

[Mike930]

Originally Posted by Screenwriter70

Fresher produce? Hurry up, holidays, and get over with. I must get to California!

I’m sure wherever you go there will be a place to get the best produce. Ask the locals or go to a farmer’s market like the prior poster said.

Originally Posted by marcopolo666

Yeah, if you buy it the day it is picked, or the day after, of course it will last longer than the stuff picked a week or 2 ago, sent to a factory to be cleaned, prepped, chopped, packaged, whatever and only then shipped out to be sold.

It's not that it is "kept" or "hoarded" - it's just nature.

If you want fresher produce, buy stuff from your area (or grow it yourself). For years I have been growing my own tomatoes and peaches (and basil and thyme and rosemary and snap peas and ...) because they taste sooooo much better when eaten right after being picked.

I bet. That’s another thing about Specialty Produce, the herbs. I paid $2 in the stores for a small packet. At Specialty, I can get a good size bag for 40 cents. Of course you can grow them but I don’t have the space, time or drive to do it.

[Ruth4Truth]

I don't think so, OP. When I was in CA in the Fall, I asked about red or purple romaine lettuce; I couldn't find any anywhere, and I was told it's "rare". What?! It doesn't have to be; if some local farmers decide to grow it, it will be fairly common. Don't CA consumers like dark varieties of lettuce? All those extra carotenoids you get from the red/puple varieties? Red romaine is common where I live. Will I have to grow my own, if I move to CA full time?

[luv4horses]

Red and purple are usually anthocyanins not carotenoids. But both are good in your diet.

[gemstone1]

"Do I have to go to California to find truly delicious iceberg lettuce?" like others have said....not sure there is such a thing...iceberg lettuce is pretty bland. But it will keep longer than leafy varieties due to; a) being a tight head, which b) makes it repel the water that supermarkets spray on produce to try to keep it crisp. What happens when you take that soggy, leafy head of lettuce home....the water starts the decay process...it gets all slimy in a matter of days. Guess what, now it's time for another head of soggy lettuce from the store....ca-ching...see a pattern ? Sell wet lettuce and the customer will buy more.

To prevent that immediate decay of leafy lettuce, we take the head apart, pat dry the leaves on a clean towel, bundle the dried leaves back together in a roll, roll in a paper towel, place in a zip-lock bag, and place in the crisper...it's amazing how much longer dry lettuce will last vs just putting a wet supermarket head in the crisper. Farmers market lettuce is not wet when purchased, thus it will last longer than supermarket lettuce.

For red vs green romaine being available, it's all about consumer demand...if it's profitable for the store, they will stock it.

Rehards
Gemstone1