The last few times I bought plums or nectarines the stone appeared to have rotted out.
However, when eating one today upon noticing this same effect I noted what appeared to be a rectangular cut out where they stem had been attached to the fruit, this then made me think has this been mechanically removed to be sold off elsewhere to increase corporate profits.
I'm located in queensland Australia.
Has anyone else noticed this and does anyone know the reasoning behind it.
Best Answer
I've seen it, and I was told that the stone fruit pits are often sold to drug and other remedy companies. The young man I spoke with said that apricot pits, for example, have compounds useful in fighting or treating cancer. I'm not sure if that is why the pits are removed, but it makes a lot of sense to me. Removing the pit lessens the weight of the fruit, so someone must be buying that missing weight for as much as or more than the amount for which you are buying the rest of the fruit.