Sniff Out Odor-Absorbing Produce , crunc hed a carrot or -Onions (large bulb types) and munched an apple that tasted garlic. Aromas from bulb onions slightly different than normal? affect apples, celery, potatoes and Chances are your taste buds raised pears. a big stink about odors absorbed -Green bunching or scallion from other foods stored in close onions. Odors from these onions proximity. affect corn, figs, greens and mush- Many fruits and vegetables tend rooms. “Scallion odor will notice to cause off-flavors and aromas in ably affect flavor,” Ferretti adds, meat, dairy products and other -Pears. Pear odor is absorbed by fruits and vegetables, says Peter cabbage, carrots, celery, onions Ferretti, professor of vegetable and potatoes, crops in Penn State’s College of -Potatoes. Aromas from pota- Agricultural Sciences. toes affect apples and pears. “Po " The closer and more enclosed tatoes are almost always stored the fresh produce is the more separately from other produce, so chance for odors to intermix,” Fer- 0( ior usually isn’t a big problem,” retti says. "In an enclosed area Ferretti says, like a refrigerator, odors really can -Green peppers. Green pepper be a problem. Consumers °dor will be absorbed by many shouldn’t experience startling fruits, including pineapples. “Rip taste changes three or four days ene( l green peppers, which usually after purchase, but beyond that are red, orange or yellow, do not you might have problems.” have as strong an aroma,” Ferretti Kathleen Brown, associate pro- says, fessor of post-harvest physiology -Citrus fruit. Citrus odor is ab at Penn State, suggests that con- sorbed by meat, eggs and dairy sumers try to rotate their produce products, purchases, using the oldest fruits -Grapes. Most commercial and vegetables first so food items grapes are treated with sulfur are not stored longer than a week dioxide for disease and insect con to 10 days. trol, giving the fruit a sulfurous Ferretti warns that odors are a roma. "produce experts say don’t more likely to be absorbed at wash most fruits before refrigerat higher temperatures, which means uig them, but grapes are the excep consumers should not intermingle don,” Ferretti says. “By washing refrigerated fruits and vegetables grapes thoroughly, the sulfur resi with produce that is commonly due and smell will wash off. Also, stored at or slightly below room people tend to snack on grapes, temperature, such as apples and eating three or four at a time. They onions. aren’t as likely to wash a small Ferretti says that not every con sumer will notice a difference in taste. “Taste is a genetic trait,” he explains. “Some people can sharply define tastes, and others have more bland taste ranges. Our sense of smell works in tandem with our taste buds, so an off-odor If produce has been stored long can affect how an apple tastes, enough to absorb odors, Ferretti even if the odor has not truly pene- recommends using the fruit or veg trated the skin.” etable in a soup, stew or casserole Ferretti and Brown list some where the flavors and aromas will popular fruits and vegetables intermingle, whose odors penetrate other foods. He also says consumers can -Apples. Apple odor is absorbed counteract some of the odor ab by cabbage, carrots, figs, onions, sorption by placing a box of baking meat, eggs and dairy products soda in tbe refrigerator, crisper “Many consumers store apples in drawer or pantry. “Baking soda the refrigerator to keep them crisp a,so absorbs moisture,” he says, but in that space their odor may “Baking soda can last quite a cause problems,” Brown says. while because the top layer absorbs -Carrots. Celery can absorb the most of the odor and moisture, so odor of carrots, “it gives celery homeowners can shake the top sort of an earthy taste,” Ferretti layer * nto tbe waste can and renew says. the treatment.” JIT / —CLOSED SUNDAYS, NEW YEAR, EASTER MONDAY, ASCENSION DAY, WHIT MONDAY, OCT. 11, THANKSGIVING, fill Kilt II CHRISTMAS & DECEMBER 26TH FISHER’S FURNITURE, INC. NEW AND USED FURNITURE USED COAL & WOOD HEATERS COUNTRY FURNITURE & ANTIQUES BUS. HRS. BOX 57 MON.-THURSB-5 1129 GEORGETOWN RD. FRI, SB, SAT. 8-12 BART, PA 17503 Wednesday, April 26-10:00 am-9:30 pm Doors open and Ribbon cutting at 9:00 am Thursday, April 27-10:00 am-9:30 pm Doors open at 9:00 am •Free Admission ‘Free Parking 'Over 100 Exhibitors *Bus Transportation Seminars: Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate, Antiques, Landscaping, Travel, Retirement Choices & Lots More Health Screenings: Bone Density, Body Fat, Reflex Testing, Glaucoma, Cardiac & Cancer Assesments & Lots More Entertainment: Lebanon Big Swing Band, Comedian Ken Hussar, Fashion Show, Ben Witters Golf Demonstration, T Carol Kline & Lots More jSgr\ J Lebanon Expo Fairgrounds g (Comer of Evergreen & Cornwall Road) *’«. Sponsored by. Area Agency on Aging, The Good Samaritan Hospital, [717) 273-9262 Cornwall Manor & Frederick Supermarket of Cars Lir VJ for more Information: number of grapes.” Brown suggests separating pro duce into individual bags, or using one crisper drawer only for fruits and another for vegetables. Bagged or wrapped produce is less likely, to absorb or emit odors. PAINT-TECH, INC. Brush <S Spray Painting • Sandblasting • Roof Coats • Waterproofing & Repairs at S 50 + Family Living Focus SARAH SIEGEL Clarion Co. Extension Agent Identity Theft The Growing Crime of Iden tity Theft It’s supper time and your phone rings. You think, “Not another telemarketer!” The voice on the other end de mands that you make a pay ment on the loan for furniture from Easy Sam’s in Alpena, Michigan. You’re confused. You’ve never set foot in the state of Michigan. And you have never borrowed to buy furniture. But the speaker insists that you pay now or else. What’s going on? Chances are you are the victim of identity theft. What is Identity Theft? Iden tity theft occurs when someone uses bits and pieces of informa tion about another individual usually including their Social Security number to represent him or herself as that person for fraudulent purposes. For example, the defrauding person may obtain credit cards or loans in someone else’s name and then not pay the bills. Or worse, commit a crime using the victim’s name. While the victim is not liable for the bills accumulated by the imposter, the victim may have months or years of anxiety and expense trying to regain finan cial health and restore good credit history. The Privacy Rights Clearing house in San Diego, CA reports that identity theft doesn’t get the attention from law enforce ment that violent crime receives. Consequently, an increasing number or criminals, including organized crime rings, are moving into this area. Identity thieves are rarely apprehended and convicted. And even if they are, sentencing is light. How Can Someone Steal Your Identity? The U. S. Gen eral Accounting Office estimates that there are 400,000 victims of identity theft each year in this country and that number is in creasing. ommercial, Industrial, •ches & Farms Change Light Bulbs Just how does an identity thief get your personal informa tion? Stealing wallets was the old-fashioned way to get an other person’s identity. Today the techniques are far more so phisticated. The criminal may pose as an employer, loan officer or landlord and order a copy of your credit report that will con tain all the information needed. Identity thieves may “shoulder surf” at an ATM machine or pay phone in order to capture PINs (personal identification num bers). Your mail may be stolen from your mailbox. A “dump ster diver” may go through a business’s trash looking for unshredded receipts. An “in sider” with access to a compa ny’s computer may steal private information about customers or employees. More often than you would think, a family member, roommate or trusted caregiver may steal from someone whose personal effects are available to them. The credit industry has made it very easy to obtain credit and credit grantors may not ade quately check the identities of applicants before granting credit. Pre-approved credit card offers sent by mail are easy tar gets for thieves. Sloppy business practices such a throwing out unshredded documents or al lowing dishonest employees access to computer files and per sonnel records are other ways that identity thieves can get your information. Can You Protect Yourself? How can you minimize your ex posure to identity theft? Do not carry extra credit cards, your Social Security card, birth certi ficate or passport in your wallet or purse except when you will need it. Remove your name from marketing lists to reduce the number of pre-approved offers of credit you receive. The three major credit bureaus use the same phone number, 1-888-567- 8688, to handle such requests. Shred or tear into small pieces any offers that come to you. Have a security fraud alert added to your credit files at the three major credit bureaus. This two-sentence statement man dates that before any new credit account can be opened, the credit grantor must call your designated phone number to verify, that the account is legiti mate. Install a locked mailbox or use a post office box. Mail any envelopes containing checks at the post office. NEED YOUR FARM BUILDINGS PAINTED? Let us give you a price! Write: Daniel’s Painting 637-A Georgetown Rd. Ronks, PA 17572 (or leave message) (717) 687-8262 Spray on and Brush in Painting Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 22, 2000-B5 Carry just one or two credit cards. Cancel all unused ac counts. Contact your local Coopera tive Extension office for a copy of a close credit account form letter or go to html://AgExtEd .cas.psu.edu/FCS/cb/credit. html. Look for “Credit Bureaus. Click on Close Credit Account Form Letter. Even if you don’t use accounts they remain in your credit report complete with account numbers that can be used by thieves. Keep a list of all credit cards, account numbers, expiration dates and phone numbers of their customer service and fraud departments in a secure place so you can immediately contact your creditors if the cards are stolen. Do the same with your bank accounts. Never give your credit card number or other personal infor mation over the phone unless you have a trusted business rela tionship with the company and you initiated the call. Beware of fake stories about winning a prize if you identify yourself with your credit card. Order your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus at least once a year to check for inaccuracies and fraudulent use of your information. Always take credit receipts with you; never toss them in a public trash container. When creating pass words and PINS don’t choose part of your Social Security number, your birth date or any other easily discovered choice. Memorize your passwords and PINS. Protect your Social Security number. Never give it out unless absolutely necessary. Don’t print it on your checks or let merchants hand write it on your checks. Carefully review all credit card statements and phone bills for any unauthorized use. What If You Are A Victim? If you are a victim of identity theft, act immediately. Report the crime to the police. Call your credit card issuers; follow up in writing. Pay particular attention to creditors for accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Phone the fraud units of the three credit report ing companies. Notify your bank of the theft. Keep a log of all conversations with businesses, including dates and names, about your identity theft prob lem. Send all correspondence by certified mail. Keep copies of all documents. The Privacy Rights Clearing house, www.privacyrights.org, phone 619-298-3396, has lots of good, detailed advice on dealing with identity theft. The Federal Trade Commis sion is the federal clearinghouse for consumer complaints about identity theft. The toll-free number to call is 877-FTC HELP or use the complaint form at www.ftc.gov. Avltrol For The Control Of • Starlings • Pigeons • Sparrows • Crows Avitrol Is A Pesticide For Control of Pest Birds *29s°° +6.00 Shipping ' Restricted use pesticide must have current applicators license Blain Supply Rt. 1, Box 117 H Blain, PA 17006 (717) 536-3861
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers