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Making the most of the
fruits of summertime
Hunkering down in the shade of
a grape vine sampling succulent
fftiit, picking strawberries for
elderly neighbors or spitting
watermelon seeds on the lawn.
'These are priceless childhood
memories with a built-in bonus:
Kids who enjoy the fruits of sum
rffer usually grow up to include
plenty of fruit in their adult diets.
Youngsters usually enjoy fruit so
much that they can be surprised to
know it’s good for them. The
familiar Food Pyramid, our illus
trated guide for daily food choic
er, suggests we eat two to four
servings of fruit every day. It’s an
ehsy choice because of fruit’s
Wonderful sweet taste. The vita
rfiins and minerals, fiber and few
calories that come along with fruit
only legitimizes our eating plea
sure.
Modem distribution systems and
storage technology enable us to
ertjoy a huge variety of fruits from
different parts of the world all year
Ibng. Fresh fruits, however, are
most available in summer. Most
piized are locally grown fruits that
can be picked at their peck of
ripeness and marketed in a day or
two. Although some fruits such as
apricots, peaches and cantaloupe,
can ripen at home, it doesn’t quite
compare with fruit picked ripe!
Local fruit that’s picked must be
distributed quickly to reach con
spmers without spoilage.
Tips for Buying Fruit
Buy most fruits when they are
ripe. Some, such as bananas,
pears, peaches, apricots and can
taloupe can ripe at home. Peaches
and pears ripen nicely in a brown
paper bag. Just place the fruit in
the bag, fold the top down and the
fruit will ripen in a day or two.
Gently shake a bunch of grapes.
Few will fall off if they are fresh.
Brown dots on the skin of some
apples and pears are okay.
The stem of a cantaloupe should
be concave (sunken in). This indi
cates that the fruit was ripe
enough to separate nicely from the
vine. A cantaloupe with the stem
still attached isn’t ripe. You also
can give cantaloupe the ’smell’
test. If it doesn’t smell like can
taloupe, it’s not ready to eat.
Georgia peaches were
clobbered again but
’9B crop is recovering
By Jennifer Cannon
Georgia Extension Service
So far, this year’s peach crop is - the
the expression - the
gbits,” said Mark Collier, a
HUniversity of Georgia county
Extension agent in Peach County.
“What we’re picking now is about
a half a crop.”
Farther south in Brooks County,
Johnny Whiddon agrees. “It’s not
looking good down here, either,”
said Whiddon, also an extension
agent. “Not now, and not later this
Reason.”
»> Brooks County
is second only to
Peach County in
Georgia peach
production.
Collier said
farmers in Peach
County, in central
Georgia, have a
later-season crop
to look forward to. Early-season
peaches, those coming in now,
were hit hard by a March freeze.
But the later peaches, those due to
ripen in mid-June and later,
escaped damage.
Georgia peach lovers are getting
all they want, Collier said, even
with the small early-season crop.
“Our growers and packers have
peaches for local sales,*' he said.
“They just don’t have enough to
ship up the eastern U.S. coast as
usual.’’
Whiddon said even the mid- and
late-season peaches aren’t looking
good in Brooks County. Two
events damaged peaches and trees
this year: the March freeze and a
hailstorm in late April.
The freeze damaged the early
peaches that had already set buds,
he said. Then hail damaged or
knocked off the young peaches
that were due to ripen in June.
By May 23, Georgia farmers had
shipped only 1.6 million pounds
r \
I BBL Debbie
Refrigerate ripe fruit to extend
the “shell-life” a few extra days.
Preparing Fruit
Wash fruits well just before
using. Cut away the stem, seeds
and any soft spots. Brush orange,
lemon or pineapple juice on cut
fruits such as apples, peaches and
pears to keep them from turning
brown. In canning or freezing
such fruits, citric or ascorbic acid
is used as an antioxidant.
Serving Ideas
Breakfast: Enjoy pieces or
crushed fruit in muffins, on cereal,
pancakes and waffles.
Lunch: Add grapes, cut-up
apples or pears in salad greens.
Snacks: Spread peanut butter on
apple slices; save fruit juice or
syrup from canned fruit to use in
drinks, sauces, jellied salads and
desserts.
Dinner: Add crushed pineapple
or apple pieces to coleslaw; add
apricot, apple or pear chunks in
braising meat.
Preservation
Fruits can be canned with or
without sugar. Several brands of
fruit pectin products to be used in
making reduced or no-sugar jams
and jellies.
References
When the cost of local fruit
makes a bulk purchase a good buy,
it’s time to consider freezing, can
ning or drying for winter pleasure.
For more information or questions
on food preservation just give me
a call.
If you have questions in the area
of Family and Consumer
Sciences, please call Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at
(770) 887-2418.
of peaches, said Bill Mizelle, an
economist with the UGA College
of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences.
“Last year by May 23, we’d
shipped more than 12.5 million
pounds,” Mizelle said. “And
though prices to fanners are about
double this year over last, I’m sure
they’d rather have a full peach
crop with lower prices than the
current situation.”
Collier said wholesale prices are
a little high, “but you expect that
when supplies are short. But
again, in central Georgia, that’s
to
It seems we go
from boom to bust
- it's a good
comparison.
years. A harsh freeze wiped out
the ‘96 crop.
Then farmers got a good crop in
‘97. Now they’re facing an odd
crop this year.
“It seems we go from boom to
bust,” he said. “Last year was
about as close to ‘normal’ as we
get, so it’s a good comparison
year.”
The Georgia Agricultural
Statistics Service reports as of
May 25, 51 percent of the peach
crop is “poor or very poor.”
Collier said that’s a matter of
quantity, not quality.
“What we have may be a little
small in some cases because of the
lack of rain, although the fruit I’ve
seen are sized quite well.
And if drought makes peaches
smaller, it makes them sweeter,
too,” he said.
Smaller peaches contain propor
tionally more sugar, he explained.
“There’s more water to dilute the
sugar in larger fruit.”
temporary. And
shoppers should
notice little
change in grocery
store prices.”
Mizelle said
Georgia peach
farmers have been
on a roller coaster
in the past few
Abby
By Abigail Van Buren
Universal Press Syndicate
DEAR ABBY: I had few close friends in
grade school, but I did have one close confi
dante, “Janie” -a girl in my class. We went on
to high school together, which made the transi
tion easier.
In my sophomore year I found a great group
of friends, but Janie and I also continued our
close relationship.
I’m a junior now, and a new girl I’ll call
Tammy has joined our group. She, too, had
problems making friends when she was
younger, but Janie accepts her. In fact, they
share many common interests.
Tammy tells me everything the two of them
do together, especially when I’m not invited to
participate. I try not to let it bother me, but I
must admit I’m hurt that my best friend spends
so much time with Tammy instead of me. I
don’t want to be possessive and prevent Janie
from forming new relationships, but neither do
I want someone to come between my best
friend and me.
Abby, Janie tells me that I’m still important
to her, but I don’t like feeling like second
banana. I’m worried that Janie and I are slip
ping away from each other.
FEELING LEFT OUT
DEAR FEELING LEFT OUT: It is not pos
sible to “own” another person. You and Janie
are growing up, and part of growing up is
developing new interests and new relation
ships. Janie’s compatibility with Tammy
should not make you feel insecure. View this
as an opportunity for you to branch out in new
directions, and it will make you stronger and
more popular.
• • •
DEAR ABBY: Thank you for the kind words
about square dancing. Abby, members of
square dance clubs do more than just dance.
We have picnics, barbecues, potluck dinners,
parties - seasonal and otherwise - and attend
special events together. We take bus trips and
Horoscope
ARIES (March 21 to April 19)
Work interests at a distance pros
per. Check to see what’s happen
ing. Creative types should meet
with agents, while children’s
interests are accented.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)
There are still things to be worked
out concerning a trip. You’ll be
doing more home entertaining in
the near future. You could spruce
up your living quarters over the
weekend.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20)
For a while, you’ll grumble about
work that interferes with socializ
ing. But there will be no com
plaints about the new career
opportunities that come your way.
A phone call brings good news
toward the latter part of the week.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22)
Work problems are on your mind
and you’re not at your gregarious
best till the later part of the week.
Accepting invitations for happy
times will be indicated. A ques
tion from a child takes you by
surprise.
LEO (July 23 to August 22)
Manners and little niceties seem
to count in business. Social life
finds you quite popular. Accept
invitations for enjoyable times
during the weekend.
VIRGO (August 23 to
September 22) Background
maneuvers are favorable for your
career. It’s a time for preparation
and research, rather than action.
You need some time for yourself
once the weekend arrives.
LIBRA (September 23 to
October 22) First, you argue
about how to have fun. Then, you
could overstay your welcome
while out visiting. Reasoning in
social matters is not at its best.
SCORPIO (October 23 to
November 21) You could com
plain about not having enough
time to do your work and then
when left to your own devices,
you could dawdle the time away.
Listen to a friend. This person’s
advice is sound.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22
to December 21) Home-based
activities are best. Catch up on
sleep and relaxation once work is
done. Some shoppers find a won
derful bargain, but don't dwell on
a career problem.
CAPRICORN (December 22
to January 19) Romance is
get together to play cards or dine at nice
restaurants. We also go on square dance cruis
es. There are opportunities for as much
involvement as anyone cares to enjoy.
My husband, Don, and I have been square
dancing since 1981 and consider it the best
activity we have ever been engaged in. Don
and I have held office in the club at least once,
and are past presidents of the Associated
Square Dancers of California (an organization
of 70 square dance clubs in Southern
California). We are currently chairing the 50th
National Square Dance Convention, to be held
in Anaheim, Calif., in June 2001.
Abby, our slogan for this year is “Square
Dancing Is Fun and Friendship Set to Music.”
We urge people who want to make friends
and have a good time to take square dance
classes or get back into a club if they have let
their membership lapse. While it takes a little
time to learn the dances, they will have fun
learning and will be happy for the decision.
They will never be lonely again— unless they
choose solitude.
DON AND DONNA WEBB,
TORRANCE, CALIF.
DEAR DON AND DONNA: I’m sure many
people will take you up on your invitation.
Readers, anyone who’s interested in finding
out where and when dances or lessons are
offered should call (800) FUN-4ALL (386-
4265). Square dancing is not only fun and
entertaining, it’s also great exercise.
• • •
DEAR ABBY: My husband, our 6-year-old
daughter (I’ll call her Marcia), and I recently
drove to my sister-in-law’s, several states
away, for a visit. At dinner, I was introduced
for the first time to her new boyfriend, “Joe.”
The man was sloppily dressed and didn’t look
very clean.
After dinner, Joe and several of the other
male guests who had been drinking during
dinner went out to continue drinking. Marcia
asked to spend the night at my sister-in-law’s,
but I was reluctant to let her stay in a home
favored over friendship. Put aside
career concerns and let yourself
have a good time. Happiness
comes through children, love and
leisure events this weekend.
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FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS W*dn»»d»y, Jun* 10,1 We I
AQUARIUS (January 20 to
February 18) If you are given
enough time by yourself, there’s
no telling what you’ll accomplish.
You’re the one who’s pulling the
strings from behind the scenes.
where these men would be returning later, no
telling how intoxicated.
I was concerned for Marcia’s safety and put
up a fight. I got pretty ugly in front of her and
my husband. Marcia was crying and my hus
band was yelling. Nobody cared to listen to
my reasons for not wanting her to stay.
Abby, I grew up with an alcoholic father. He
used to come home drunk and get very mean
with my siblings and me. I didn’t want the
same thing to happen to my little girl.
Marcia ended up staying there for the night,
and Joe did come back drunk. He finally
passed out on a couch near my daughter’s bed
room. The next day, Marcia said Joe and my
sister-in-law were talking loudly for hours
after he returned, and she didn’t get much
sleep.
Now my sister-in-law won’t speak to me, and
my husband and mother-in-law are upset with
me for the way I acted. I believe I acted as any
mother would who has had experience with
drunks.
How can I fix this?
A MOM WHO TRIED IN FLORIDA
DEAR MOM: Although your motives were
noble, you overreacted. Had you approached
the problem calmly and rationally instead of
putting up a fight, you might have gained sup
port for your position.
Write your mother-in-law and sister-in-law
notes of apology for the unpleasant scene, and
apologize to your husband and daughter. In the
future, make sure the sleeping arrangements
are clear to Marcia before you visit this house
hold.
• • •
What teens need to know about sex, drugs,
AIDS, and getting along with peers and par
ents is in “What Every Teen Should Know.”
To order, send a business-sized, self-addressed
envelope, plus check or money order for $3.96
($4.60 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Teen
Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, 111.
61064-0447. (Postage is included.)
Keep this to yourself.
PISCES (February 19 to
March 20) Slow down and do the
job right. Both an old and a new
friend are important to you. Doors
seem to open for you and good
PAGE 13A