Can You Trust a Tomato in January? - by Vince Staten (Paperback)

About the Book

The author of "Unauthorized America" and "Real Barbecue" tells why our great-grandmothers wouldn't recognize the thing called a tomato these days, and explains just exactly what American "cheese" really is. "Absolutely fascinating proof that food isn't food like we used to know it".--Ann DeFrange, "The Sunday Oklahoman". Lightning Print On Demand Title

Book Synopsis

From Simon & Schuster and the author of Real Barbecue, Can You Trust a Tomato in January is everything you wanted to know (and a few things you didn't) about food in the grocery store.

An informative tour of the grocery store answers questions about history, sociology, marketing, economics, chemistry, and nutrition of modern food.

From the Back Cover

Here is the great American ritual of supermarket shopping in all its Muzak-drenched, fluorescent-lit, coupon-clipped glory. In this fascinating expedition through the world of polished linoleum-tiled aisles, find out why peanut butter doesn't stick to the roof of your mouth anymore, discover the lost connection between graham crackers and sex, and learn what's really in the mysterious stuff they call Cool Whip.

Join author Vince Staten on his humorous and revealing journey through the secret life of our favorite supermarket items, as he uncovers the hidden histories and fascinating folklore behind the foods we take for granted. The results are truly amazing and reveal the answers to such questions as: Which has more lemon in it, Lemon Pledge or Country Time Lemonade? What is Spam-- and why is it so darn popular? What happened to the vanilla in Nabisco Nilla Wafers? Who thought of putting American cheese in an aerosol can, and is it really cheese, anyway?

About the Author

Vince Staten is the author of Ol' Diz', Unauthorized America, Real Barbecue, and Can You Trust a Tomato in January? He lives in Prospect, Kentucky.