Friday, February 18, 2005
Another apple-pickin' benefit of having a federal government that the Founders never foresaw...
What man-made packaging could improve on an apple picked fresh from the tree?OK, so it's an old idea, previously researched, that McDonald's is already using. That explains the need for a new taxpayer-funded study of it.
Enter a federally funded study [of] the feasibility of processing and marketing fresh-cut apple slices in New England. The results of the study will be shared by the region's six states and their roughly 150 apple growers.
Additional federal money is available to fund a pilot project testing the popularity of packaged apple slices...
Steve Lacasse, chairman of the New England Apple Growers Association, is enthusiastic about the study and about the future for sliced apples.
"It's a wide-open field. It's going to take off like wildfire," the Keene apple salesman said. "Studies have shown children will eat more apples if you cut them in slices."
It's not a new idea, those in the industry say. McDonald's has been selling apple slices with a caramel dip for children...
The study, if approved, would be conducted by the Cooperative Development Institute Inc. of Massachusetts, which works with many farming, energy and food cooperatives to help them with business planning.Ah, well, that sort of research effort surely is beyond the capacity of the profit-motivated private sector, absent government subsidy. 'Nuff said.
"We should be able to tell the (New England) apple industry if this is a good idea or a bad idea and put some numbers to it," said Lynda Brushett, the project manager. The results of the study should be available in spring, she said...
"Like we'd call food service directors at schools and ask 'how do you think kids would like this?'" Brushett said... [AP]
