The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-16
TASTE OF CITY FRUIT.
Causes Of the Lack Of Flavor Of witch Some
People Complain.

Everywhere about this great fruit-eatins city
the comparative tastelessness Of some Of the
fruits which In the memory were among the
most luscious OF former time IL deplored nova
days by men. women and children alike, that
Is II the children have had the good fortune
70 eat fruit where II Il grown for home con-
sumption. Some complaints Of the disap-
pearance from city markets OF the "frui that
had a taste" and some speculations a. 20 tho
reason that what Is offered no longer IL Of the
tasteful variety have appeared from time 10
time In TnE Sun.
According 70 some growers OF fruit these
writers have not hit upon the real reason why
the character OF the fruits In the city markets
has SO greatly changed. 1t used to be said by
New Workers who ate shsd in other places
that there was no shad to equal those taken
from the North River, Just as Baltimoreans
would assu re their friends from other parts Of
the country that they must come to Maryland
10 enjoy terrapin, and PhiladelphIans spoke
ever Of the superiority Of Shrewsbury oysters.
The philnsophic reached the conclusion that
thnle various statements merely meant that the
several eustatory dellehts mentioned were Ia be
hest enjoved nearest the habitat OF each. and
mon have lately risen to remark that fruits, TOO,
must be eaten near whore they are grown TO have
The enlarging city has nut the fruit belt too
far away for the markets T. get the fruit In all
its freshness But the irult growers say. mat
these men have not arrived at the real explana-
ton Of the matter.
demand OF fruiterers not only fruit that is
PERFECTLY sound hut that. also looks well. To
supply the city demand fruit must be shipped
here from considerable distances. The prime
rearisite. therefore, is for fruit that viii stand
trnnsportation and reach the city market
sound and In A shane attractive to the eye.
The effort OF growers. therefore. has been 10
produce fruit Of good keeping qualities. This
has necessitated getting q fruit OF hrmness OF
texture and frnness OF skin, These qualities
have been cultivated. witt the result Of the
production of fruit Of n somewhat coarse pulp
and thick coating. In peaches this is the more
readily noticeable, but II Is true also OF apples
and rears. Strawbe rrics az raised Tor the city
markets have suffered In the same way. As
ioye,prles, tomatoes might be classed with
the fruits, and no vegetable has suffered "a
tomatoes have suffered from the, same causes
peach, Many farmers In the garden belt OF
New York, not large fruit growers, but the men
who used to send the produce OF their orchards
IN town, no longer make. an efort 20 sell their
fruit 20 buyers for the city. since they cannot
get good prices for fruits, which though super
Tor In flavor will not keep In condition long
enough 20 meet the demands Of the city market
mon. II u the fruit OF, good kecnlng qualities
that the CITY markets demand. The city pur-
veyors arc not willing, and probably IL Il true
that they are not commercially able, 10 stand
the losses entalled in the handling Of the deli
cate varieties Of fruit which are so quickly
perishahle.
Such is the explanation advanced by some
growers Of fruit, at any rate for the disappear
ance Of the fruit that had q taste" from the
markets OF New York city.