So I went to the store to find some stuff for dinner for Dad and I- eventually settled on chili in bread bowls, but I did buy a lot of fruit man- maybe too much.
Anyway, I try to buy as much local produce as possible just because it is better for Washington-- if it isn't from Washington tho, then I really don't care unless it is like say coconuts from Mexico or something- that just doesn't sound right. I was in the apple section: galas, granny's, breaburns, pink ladies, Red Delicious (which are anything but delicious) and since, suprisingly didn't see any Washington types in the kinds I like,
I went with the Fuji's from New Zealand. It must be New Zealand's time of year man-- they had apples galore as well as plums and all kinds of other stuff- like some Satsumas I bought also from the Kiwi nation.-- Go All Blacks.Another intersting Fact about New Zealand you may or may not know is that they are known for their honey exports- the reason for this is the New Zealand bee-- which is a national treasure of sorts and they won't export for good reason-- These bees operate and collect at lower temperatures than Italian bees- which are the standard bees used in bee keeping. Evan raised bees- much to our neighbors chagrin when they swarmed- but that is a story for another time.
So the New Zealand bees if they were to get out would cause production to increase in other countries of the world and therefore wouldn't be as valuable to NZ.
This brings me to one of Washington's Best and Greatest export--- besides the fact that we are the nation's largest producer of apples (only second in the world to China), red raspberries, and cherries. The RAINER CHERRY is the best thing, perhaps in the world. You on the east coast may have seen them recently as shipping techniques have improved (I've seen them in Whole foods in Brookline) but they don't travel well- and because of this are expensive-- also because they are sooooo good.
Rainiers are considered the "cream of the crop", selling for $5 dollars a pound or more in the USA, and as much as a dollar a piece in Japan. Crazy japanese. If the temperature reaches 90, the cherry loses a day of life. If the wind blows too hard, the cherry bruises from rubbing against another cherry. If it rains more than a day, the cherry busts its skin. Not to mention a third of the crop goes to the birds. It is like playing Poker with God. Delicious poker.