| People aren't the only ones getting tattoos these | | | | vegetables for a party, they'd prefer not to |
| days. Pretty soon you'll see fruits and vegetables | | | | serve the pieces that have writing on them. |
| with writing on them in the grocery stores. | | | | Writing on vegetables, whether or not it's edible, |
| Instead of using stickers, fruit and vegetable | | | | can seem unappealing. And removing the written |
| labelers will be carving out names and expiration | | | | on part ahead of time, or seeking out the cut up |
| dates from the skin. | | | | pieces with the writing can be much more of a |
| A new laser technology has been developed in | | | | hassle than removing a label. |
| the past couple of years to etch out "labels" from | | | | Will people buy tattooed produce? |
| the skin of both hard-skinned and soft-skinned | | | | The fact of the matter is anything new might be |
| fruits and vegetables. The system created by | | | | slow to catch on, but once this new system of |
| Hydroponics is called the Naturall Light Label | | | | labeling is implemented, there shouldn't be much |
| System and has already been used in farms in | | | | difference. Stickers are considered commonplace |
| South Carolina. | | | | for the time being, but in the long run, stickered |
| Is it better? | | | | fruits and vegetables will probably be replaced. To |
| Developers of the laser labeling machines claim | | | | put it another way, consumers aren't in control of |
| that it is. Of course they need to say this to sell | | | | what fruits and vegetables turn up in grocery |
| their product, but many of the benefits they point | | | | stores; the retailers are. But, predicted consumer |
| out for consumers make sense. | | | | behavior is an important factor for retailers. In |
| If you compare the laser etching to the current | | | | order for consumer behavior to fare well in the |
| sticker labels, there are a great deal of benefits. | | | | eyes of retailers, consumers will need to be |
| For one, you don't have to deal with peeling off a | | | | aware of the technology's benefits. So, in a |
| sticker at all. Two, there will be no potentially | | | | nutshell, the key is education. Hydroponics |
| harmful and unhealthy adhesive residue left behind. | | | | conducted a survey in 4 different big cities asking |
| And three, there is no potential harm of | | | | whether or not they would purchase tattooed |
| accidentally ingesting a sticker. You can just wash | | | | produce. The result was: " When educated about |
| your produce and eat it. | | | | laser labelling, consumers preferred it to the |
| On the other hand, some fruit and vegetable | | | | current labelling on edible skin/hard skin fruit and |
| consumers say that they would prefer a | | | | produce. |
| removable label. Say they're chopping up | | | | |