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If you're not familiar with TJ's, you're probably thinking that this isn't such a strange thing. After all - in most grocery stores, you can bag your own apples. Trader Joe's has always had their fruit pre-packed, though, and to see all the types of apples loose and mixed together was just... not very Trader Joe's-like!
It took me a minute or two - as opposed to a few seconds - to pick out four organic Fujis. Is the TJ's in your area doing this, too? And, if so, do you prefer this type of display?
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10-22-2006 @10:12AM POOT-TOOP said... Do you guys get advertising dollars from Trader Joe's; because it seems that way. This post "WOWEEeee, mix your own APPLES"... is complete crap.. what next? "Yippee-i-ay ... NEW style TWIST-TIES from Trdr JOS"
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10-22-2006 @1:35PM Kate said... Who crapped in your Wheaties today, Poot? Just in your honor, I'll draft my response accordingly...
I have a love hate relationship with Trader Joe's fruit. At times, I swear I can watch Trader Joe's fruit age and spoil before my very eyes, on the way home. At other times, Trader Joe's fruit is fine. In fact, the last batch of raspberries I bought from Trader Joe's was one of the best baskets I'd ever had, and Trader Joe's is one of the few stores in my area where I can buy pomegranante seed or fresh red currants, and other novelty fruits.
So, Nicole, no, I hadn't noticed my local Trader Joe's permitting us to choose and bag our own fruit. I'd definately prefer this. I don't always want a full four-pack of any Trader Joe's fruit. On the other hand, I buy apples the least frequently of all the fruits, so while it makes sense that this shelf-stable and hardy fruit is the one Trader Joe's allows you to pick and bag yourself, I wish they'd do it for other Trader Joe's fruits as well.
P.s. Trader Joe's, Trader Joe's, Trader Joe's.
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10-22-2006 @2:06PM Spitzmaus said... Like it or not, Poot, TJ's has found a market niche and filled it quite nicely, thank you. No, it's not all hearts and flowers; nothing -- not Starbucks, not YouTube, not fill-in-the-blank -- ever is. That said, I stand by their 28-oz. cans of whole, peeled, no salt tomatoes for $.99 as one example. And because I live in California rather than Vermont, theirs is the price to beat for King Arthur Flour.
Now, I buy almost all my produce at the farmers' market, but now and again I have to punt. This week, I found myself short of apples for applesauce, stopped in at a local TJs, and yes, found open bins of mix-'n-match apples just as Nicole reported. I picked out my own fruit, bought just the amount needed, and came away happy. I most definitely prefer this type of display and the "hands on" method of choosing one's produce.
Oh, and the applesauce? Delicious.
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10-22-2006 @2:47PM POOT-TOOP said... You guys are funny.
But, this would be like if Starbucks had a new insulating sleeve. It wouldnt be newsworthy unless they paid to have it posted.
Thats all im suggesting; that Trader Joes paid Slashfood to run this. Nto only this, but, all the other 'news' concerning Trader Joe. They all sound like advertorials. I guess if it pays the bills...
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10-22-2006 @8:08PM Adriane said... I do like TJ's but I have to agree with Poot... I suppose the change is slightly interetsting but seems pretty mundane. Now, if this was something new to all grocery stores around the country, then you'd have something.
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10-23-2006 @10:05AM Jon said... It's an interesting change because it goes against one of the main features of the TJ's produce section: Practically everything is in plastic. The only thing you could buy loose before was bananas. This is a change in their business model for produce, so it's worth mentioning.
Besides, there are only so many legitimate food stories in a day to post here. I doubt there's some fascinating story going unreported because of the TJ's article.
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10-24-2006 @4:58PM Emily said... I actually talked to someone at my TJ's about that - he says soon they are going to get rid of the plastic boxes (that they used to use for apples) for all of their fruit. I'm glad because I hate buying more than I want of something, and because I think in the long run those plastic containers are probably more wasteful than a plain plastic fruit bag. Plus I get to pick out the good ones from the bunch.
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