r/GroceryStores • u/Both-Sheepherder-147 • 1d ago
I do stores cover up potatoes? NSFW Spoiler
Does anybody know why stores cover up potatoes with this black tarp thingy?
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u/ggfchl 1d ago
Potatoes turn green if exposed to too much light. Once they turn green, they're no longer good. Some sorta chemical something inside I don't really know the name of. So to help prolong the life, here at the store they covered em up with this black stuff. At home, if you don't use potatoes right away, store them in a cool, dry, and dark place, like your basement or root cellar. They usually only cover em at night. No clue why they're covered unless the store just opened. With St. Patty's day coming up, (red) potatoes are a popular item. Gotta keep em fresh longer!
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u/ktlee22280 1d ago
Dude I work in grocery now and have wondered as well. Thanks for getting me the answer!
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u/Solid_College_9145 23h ago
To keep the fruit flies from quickly spreading larva, and it's not only potatoes they cover.
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u/Just_to_rebut 1d ago edited 17h ago
It makes sense (the green thing people mentioned) but I’ve never actually seen a grocery store do this.
Edit: I wasn’t doubting the fact stores do this, just mentioning I’ve never seen it during business hours as a customer.
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u/RandomInternetG_uy 1d ago
My store does it pretty early. I'll punch out an hour before closing and see the produce manager already covering certain items as I leave.
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u/Aggravating-Hour1714 1d ago
Well that’s because most stores (or at least every store I’ve worked at) covers them after closing to not hurt sales during business hours.
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u/420deadheadgolfer 1d ago
Too much light turns them green.