"Microwave Ready Potato"

[akdiver 3]

So, I was buying russet potatoes today. Something like $1/pound. I got 5 potatoes.

Just as I was about about to move on to the dead animal flesh aisle, I noticed some individually shrinkwrapped potatoes next to the bin of loose and unwrapped potatoes. This piqued my curiosity.

So, I pick one up and look at it - and I think, "why in the hell is this potato individually shrinkwrapped??" Then I spy the label on it. It seems that it is a "microwave ready" potato. The label notes that it has been "prewashed". A prewashed, microwave ready, individually shrinkwrapped potato. And what do they charge for this fabulous advance in potato technology?? $1.99 EACH!!!! I couldn't believe it!!

Truly - a sign of things to come.

Edited November 6, 2008 by akdiver

[spookyturtle 9,466]

They taste great.

[MrsCat 6]

I think the shrink-wrapped potatoes are bought by the same people who got sub-prime loans.

While there is something more affordable and less desirable on the market, they decided on the fancier option which requires less work on their part.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

But it's a special shrinkwrap that's hermetically sealed.

[MrsCat 6]

But it's a special shrinkwrap that's hermetically sealed.

well you do make a good point for the extra $1.

[NickD 203]

But it's a special shrinkwrap that's hermetically sealed.

well you do make a good point for the extra $1.

Wish they go back to using illegals to pick potatoes, these new semi-automated pickers leave the potatoes loaded with stab marks, have to cut those out as all black under the skin. Rarely order a baked potato at even a fine restaurant, comes wrapped in aluminum foil, and when you open it, find a layer of mud as the inner wrapping.

We order screws in bulk for the company, typical prices are 1/2 to 3/4 cents per screw, go to the hardware store and have to pay a buck for three screws in a skin pack. Even for screws, can cost anywhere from 20-30 cents for even just a small skin pack to hold about 1 1/2 cents of screws, a ripoff. Pain in the butt to open these skin packs, and only good to toss in the trash can overloading our land fills with none degradable garbage. But this is done for the convenience of the stores, certainly not for us, but we are responsible of recycling this #######.

Always a problem with marketing, want to spend five times as much for the package than what's in it, but complain what's in it is costing too much, cheapen it up. Sell is the name of the game, buy even a bottle of auto wax, five inches wide, ten inches high, but a 1/4 of an inch deep so they have room for sell. Try setting that bottle anywhere without it tipping over, the world has gone crazy.

[Emancipation 2]

I remember there being a new story on this back home (PEI).. it would appear North Americans don't have time to wash and to peel their own veggies anymore so this was done for "convenience" sake (and to increase the amount of veggies we eat). Of course the grower also will make more money. The potato growers back home have sometimes changed the varieties etc. that they grow so they can make the perfect "looking" potato for this use.

[almaty 19]

But it's a special shrinkwrap that's hermetically sealed.

well you do make a good point for the extra $1.