3 ms·
Not really even a hypothesis. Farmers select for traits that increase profit. Since most markets don't let customers actually taste the product, they aren't c
by horsawlarway 5y ago
Not really even a hypothesis.
Farmers select for traits that increase profit. Since most markets don't let customers actually taste the product, they aren't choosing to buy it on that quality, and no one in the commercial space is trying to optimize it.
Instead customers are buying fruit that LOOKS good - big, bright, colorful, blemish-free (survives transport without damage).
So farmers plant fruits that will look good, survive transport, and have large yields. Unfortunately optimizing those qualities tends to get you terribly bland tasting fruit.
Ironically - pre-industrial revolution, when most fruits were grown and consumed locally, it was the opposite - people tended to select for fruits that were good tasting.
- Ozzie_osman 5y agoI learned that baby carrots were not actually "baby" (small carrots) when I was I my 20s, after consuming them for years. Baby carrots are carved from disfigured (but otherwise edible) carrots, because otherwise most people won't buy disfigured carrots.
- komadori 5y agoBaby carrots are a real thing. The taste is distinctive, and you couldn't replicate the stalks or skin texture by cutting up larger carrots. It's rather unfortunate if they're allowed sell pre-cut carrot chunks as baby carrots where you live!
- pvaldes 5y agoCarved is probably not a good way to express it. Cut from forked carrots more probably so there is not need to replicate the skin or size. You have it already. Real baby carrots are very nice, but tender roots from forked carrots (that would be otherwise discarded when are perfectly ok to eat), is a tradeoff solution and decent replacement
- hutzlibu 5y agoI sometimes feel, our whole economy is optimized for this: mass produced things, that look good, but seldom are good.