Food Follows Fashion

Several years ago, suddenly (or so it seemed), the corn (maize, to many non-Americans) we'd buy in stores and at the farmer's market as well was bi-colored corn. That is, where we previously had yellow corn (the most common) and white corn, now there were ears of corn with both white and yellow kernels intermingled on the same cob.

And just this spring (maybe it occurred earlier and I didn't notice), the navel oranges are "Cara Cara" oranges, with attractive reddish flesh. Somewhat like blood oranges but maybe closer in color to pink grapefruit.

In both of these cases I surmise that we're getting newly developed varieties that farmers are now choosing to grow and which customers like for their attractive appearance.

For once I am not crying "Foul!" against the food industry. There is nothing wrong with giving us, the consumers, food that is attractive—as long as the new, more attractive varieties are equal or better in nutrition than what we had been using; and I don't have any facts on that.

Copyright © 2012 by Richard Stein