White Glue, The Grocer’s Friend
[Note: Repost from my former blog, originally posted March 2006]
If you read my prior post on Associated Market here on Flatbush Ave., located just south of Fenimore Street on the west side of the street, you might recall I made mention of a number of problems encountered at that store. Among other issues in this market was the Problem of White Glue used to seal a five-pound bag of sugar. This, in theory, might not be the best method but it could have worked if the staff had the foresight to set it aside to fully dry overnight. Instead, it was probably applied and immediately placed on the shelf where my husband picked it up, purchased it and brought it home to sweeten his morning coffee. Only to end up with wet and dripping white glue on his fingers. It was pretty disgusting.
On Friday I purchased a few items from this very same Associated. It takes me forever to shop there because I feel compelled to look over each item with careful scrutiny. I bought maybe a dozen items in all, but as I entered the store I noticed what appeared to be a recent shipment of bananas, fresh and unscathed. These bananas, by the way, are packaged in plastic bags that are in part clear, but also marked. So the consumer is able to turn the package upside down to view the bananas, but not see the top with real clarity due to the packaging. I probably should have recognized it as a warning sign to move on when I picked up a small bunch of bananas and noticed they were quite hot. Maybe from shipment — sitting in a delivery truck all day could do that.
Ultimately I bought a modest bunch of five bananas in in what seemed to be decent condition and of normal temperature. Imagine my surprise on Saturday morning when I removed one to slice into the morning Total and saw what appeared to be a peculiar gash on one of the bananas beneath it.
Now, normally I would have just thought there was just a bad one in the bunch and maybe felt some minor annoyance that I had overlooked it, too bad for me. However something about this banana caught my eye, specifically the glossy area around the mark itself. Examining this area closer, it was clear there was some kind of coating covering the injured banana area. I suspect white glue.
The photo was taken in my kitchen with available light, no flash. You can see the transparent glossy coat of “something” covering the banana wound. Now is it me or is this just a little scary? Not knowing what efforts have been taken to “repair” broken food before you buy it bothers me. In other places where I have lived, slightly off or injured items were placed on the day-old rack and seriously discounted. Really, they saved how much with this effort? Probably pennies, and in return they have earned an even greater negative attitude from me. It makes me wonder what else is going on behind closed doors if this the usual procedure. Is this typical? I have never seen such a thing in any other grocery store, and I have been to plenty of different stores.
Explore posts in the same categories: Brooklyn, Retail Hell
October 23rd, 2006 at 5:11 am
Hi,
I also recently moved here from California. (My husband lives in Brooklyn, we got married, and he had the better job.) Needless to say, the quality of the produce, as well as the price, in the grocery store was rather shocking. There is a solution though! My husband is Chinese, and (not to be stereotypical in anyway), I have found that most Chinese tend to be much pickier about the freshness and quality , as well as the meat and vegatables they buy. If you go to Chinatown, you will find the produce much cheaper and much less expensive. I was going to the Manhattan Chinatown, which has some great shopping (avoid Canal street w/ all the tourist traps and walk N. or South of it), but was getting a little tired of it being so crowded. So. . .recently my husband and I took the N train to check out Brooklyn Chinatown on 8th avenue and 61st street. (get off at 8th avenue and walk north.) It was great! The streets were much less crowded than Manhattan (even on Saturday!), and the produce even cheaper and fresher than Manhattan Chinatown! There is also supposed to be another small Chinatown in Brooklyn on U avenue, but we haven’t checked it out yet. Anyways, I would strongly suggest trying that out for good fruits and vegetables. (The fresh saltwater fish still might be better in Manhattan (try the shop on Mulberry Street in Manhattan closest to Canal St.), but try Hong Kong Supermarket in Brooklyn for fresh meat (as long as you are brave enough to walk past fresh cut fish heads and the like. . . )
October 23rd, 2006 at 5:18 am
The other place to get fish/meat in Manhattan is Dynasty Supermarket NE of Mott and Canal St. (Just ignore the very dirty floor - the meat/fish stuff here is still probably fresher than your average sterile supermarket (look up a 20/20 exposé on frozen “fresh” chicken if you’re wondering what I’m talking about). (The vegetables are kind of sad though.) Also, if you need some inexpensive cooking supplies, try Pearl River Mart on Broadway (w. side of the street) north of Canal St. A lot of stuff on the top floor is touristy and overpriced, but go downstairs and they have some of the best prices on restaurant supply type kitchenware that is of reasonable quality.
October 31st, 2006 at 10:53 am
Sorry if this too many posts.
But I just found another great place to get bread. Friedman’s Grocery on 13th Ave. A bag of 5 FRESHly made! bagels is 1.19!!
They also have a large selection of disposable baking pans and such in an amount I haven’t seen anywhere else in the city (even at K-mart)
http://brooklyn.citysearch.com/profile/7361397/brooklyn_ny/friedman_s_grocery.html
You can get here by taking the D train from Atlantic Ave.
(Just don’t expect to shop for Pork here though.)
November 24th, 2006 at 2:43 am
Hi, I just found your blog while trying to find info on what I think is an armory up on Bedford/Atlantic Ave. Your entries are great, and it’s nice to know that there’s another architecture nerd in the neighborhood. I just moved to Ocean Ave last April and spend a lot of time wandering around, taking in all of the beautiful old buildings.
Anyway, I saw this entry and I know it’s old but I just wanted to mention a couple of things.
I usually walk to Pioneer on Parkside Avenue, because they have decent produce, and I have yet to have a horrible outcome from that store. If you want even fresher produce, I’ve noticed a store a couple of blocks further down Flatbush that sells mostly just produce. I also noticed, somewhere near Church ave, that there’s a Stop and Shop nearby. I’ve been considering taking the b41 down there, because the lack of good produce in the area is pretty annoying. My standards may be a bit high, though. I moved here from upstate, so fresh fruits and veggies were to be expected. Anyway, good luck!!