Posted on 10/12/2009 4:53:08 PM PDT by Halfmanhalfamazing
The top of the frozen apple juice can was stamped with the date, then the word "China." I could not believe it. China? I live in the Shenandoah Valley, at one time the biggest apple producer in the world, and my apple juice comes from China?
Maybe it's just this store brand, I thought. But a visit to another grocery store confirmed it. They stocked a name brand, the top of it stamped with the date and the words "from China."
I googled "China and apples." Stories and reports came up confirming my ... yes, fear. I hadn't been paying attention, it seems. Nearly all of America's apple juice concentrate comes from China.
Those tiny oval gold stickers haunt me.
Those stickers were on my carbon steel pepper grinder and salt shaker set. They're on many of the picture frames that hold the faces of those I love. Other items "Made in China" include the small stainless thermos I bought last week, an American Greetings card from a friend, numerous Christmas cards, Christmas tins, bread machine, kitchen scale, oil & vinegar bottle set, rustic motorcycle ceramic, a strand of fake ivy, molded angel candle, pedometer, stainless steel wok, lamps, wire baskets, Heavy Duty Milwaukee Work Light, small brass alarm clock, telephones and the eyeglass frames through which I see the world.
Given a choice, I try to purchase merchandise made in the USA or anywhere in the world but China. This is often futile. I understand that reality.
But apple juice? This is where I draw the line.
So I was talking to a nurse about this. She grew up in Winchester and assured me that the White House brand based there used only domestic apples.
Relieved to find a source in Virginia, on Wednesday I purchased four half-gallon bottles of White House apple juice. I was happy to have a choice, even if it cost a few cents more. Feeling quite satisfied with myself, I later poured out a small glass. That's when I saw the small print stamped on the side of the bottle: "Concentrate China."
They feed fish on human waste
LOL. I know what you mean. I do so love canned Salmon and the croquettes that I make. I think the Salmon I buy is Alaskan. I have never cared for fresh Salmon.
Oh my aching back. I’ve had extended experience with picking Strawberries. When my first (deceased) husband and I farmed, we raised strawberries commercially. We also raised tobacco and chickens and turkeys for market. I had almost forgotten that life. Funny how we block out parts of our lives.
You might think that there would be lots of people wanting to do some farm work with today's high unemployment rates. Not so, largely due to government policies. Every time they extend unemployment benefits, as they did recently to part timers, or extend the time people can collect, there is less incentive to do any work. If a person works at a rate of pay less than their usual, they will collect less unemployment the next time they get laid off...thus lots of jobs "Americans won't do." Thanks government.
Unless they've changed their policy in the last 7 years since I retired, absolutely not true....they may not buy from China, but they'll buy Chinese seafood from an American broker or importer.
I spent 25 years in the fish importing biz, and one of my customers was a main supplier to TJ's.
“Kirkland.”
Yes, Costco is about the only place to buy non-Chinese food. We moved to Costco from Sam’s Club because EVERYTHING at Sam’s is from China — mushrooms, shrimp, apple juice, etc....
Good info. I will make it a point to seek out Mott’s.
Go Mott’s!
Its a lot a squatting LoL
I used to be the Maintenance Manager for White House in Maiden, NC back in the early nineties. Not only was most of the apple juice cut with concentrate from Chile, if the apples were of high quality and the juice had a high “brick” content (sugar) the juice was cut with filtered water to stretch the batch.
They treated their employees like dogs, especially the temporary workers and had on eof the highest turn overs of salaried personnel that I have every witnessed. Eventually they phased out most of their growers in favor of co-packing (Gatorade, Snapple, etc.) and bottling juice from concentrates. We do not use any White House Foods (National Fruit) products knowingly in our house hold.
It was my understanding that Japan bought most of the apples in the Western US when I was with National Fruit, which drove up the prices
I love Trader Joes, and did not know that they refuse to buy from China. One more reason to shop there!
We drink most of our apple juice from them!!
Taking unemployment should be the last thing a person takes. Get out and work. There is always something that needs doing. You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to get somebody to mow my yard and it’s the size of a postage stamp. I’m old, I would love to have someone to help me clean out my basement. It’s a disaster, but nobody has the time to help me out. I’ve never taken unemployment. I just go make a job. I’m still working (that’s why I need help at home)a full-time job at 75.
The best thing to do is get folks to pick for themselves based on nostalgia
You know, Harry, I stopped buying White House juice and applesauce because it just was not good quality. The taste does seem like it’s watered down. Now I know why. Thanks.
God Bless you
Not only do the factories not exist, the managers and engineers with the knowledge to operate factories are retired or nearing retirement. This country needs to take dramatic action to bring manufacturing back to the US:
1) Institute a tariff of at least 20% on all imported products.
2) Eliminate corporate tax on profits made on products manufactured in the USA.
3) Assess a fee on every container brought into this country. The fee should be set high enough that the sum of the fees assessed on all containers each year covers the cost of operating the Coast Guard, Customs Service, Immigration Service, and Army Corps of Engineers.
4) Tort reform — loser pays all costs.
5) Regulatory reform.
6) Education reform — back to the basics (reading, writing, math) plus civics (American history and government).
7) End double taxation of dividends for all corporations manufacturing 100% in the USA.
8) Reciprocal non-tariff barriers.
9) Energy policy that encourages development of nuclear power and domestic petroleum resources.
Funny you should mention that. We had to go to Columbus today to see my eye doctor. On the way home we stopped at Renick’s Farm where they sell homemade stuff. They grow a big pumpkin patch just behind the store where people could go out and pick their own pumpkin. I bought mine at the store. The wind was brisk. LOL.
They changed their policy a few months ago, after the dog food/toothpaste, etc... China quality problems. When they made this policy change, it caused shortages in certain foods,such as edamame for several weeks.
Amen. What you said. Those are indeed some of the best things we could do for America.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.