04/17/06 No Bagged Apples

Bagged Apple slices have been heralded as a new taste and marketing sensation for our Northwest apple industry. It was a coup when McDonalds got on the bandwagon and now food services venues like schools and hospitals are following suite. But there is trouble in fresh pack paradise, organic elitists are attempting to have bagged apples removed from the New York City school district predominantly because they do not regard plastic packaging as environmentally friendly". If the apples are removed from the New York school district, that serves up a hopping 860,000 meals a day, (second only to our military) you can bet that the fallout will fuel a frenzy in the Northwest organic movement. A chef for Berkeley public schools just announced that she will no longer be purchasing any bagged produce. Out the window goes innovation and technology and so much for helping obese American school children make healthy choices. The grade schoolers I know that wouldn't touch a whole apple love apple slices!