DATE: Wednesday, September 24, 1997         TAG: 9709230039

SECTION: FLAVOR                  PAGE: F1   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: Market Report 

SOURCE: Ruth Fantasia 

                                            LENGTH:   55 lines

WE NEEDN'T STOP EATING FISH BECAUSE OF PFIESTERIA

IF ALL THE TALK about Pfiesteria has made you wary of eating seafood, don't worry.

For starters, very little commercial fishing is done in the Pocomoke River basin, according to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. A Virginia portion of the Pocomoke River, near an area in Maryland affected by a fish kill possibly due to Pfiesteria, has been closed by the Department of Health. The closed area is being patrolled around the clock by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, there are no associated health hazards with the consumption of seafood in areas of the Chesapeake Bay or the Atlantic Ocean that are not under advisories.

In other words, no one is fishing up there in Maryland and there isn't anything wrong with the fish down here. So go 'head and eat some.

When buying fish, look for flesh that is firm and springs back when touched. The skin of the fish should have an iridescent luster, the eyes should be clear and the gills red.

Although Virginia seafood is still safe, the grocery stores aren't featuring it this week. Here's a sampling of what is on sale:

Harris Teeter has Alaskan snow crab clusters for $2.99 a pound. Be-Lo is offering skinless whiting fillets for $1.79 a pound and salmon fillets for $6.99 a pound. At 3 Stores

1 Roof, you'll find 16-ounce packages of peeled and deveined rock shrimp for $4.78.

In the meat departments, Farm Fresh has Fieldale Farms whole fryer chickens for 48 cents a pound. Harris Teeter has ground chuck for 89 cents a pound and hen or tom turkeys for 59 cents a pound. Be-Lo is offering boneless bottom round roasts for $1.39 a pound. Assorted loin pork chops are $1.58 a pound at 3 Stores 1 Roof. Farmer Jack has chicken leg quarters for 38 cents a pound and New York strip steaks for $4.88 a pound.

In the produce sections, look for 8-ounce packages of fresh white mushrooms for 99 cents at Harris Teeter. Farmer Jack has fresh green beans for 57 cents a pound. Choose from bosc, red, comice and seckel pears, all for 97 cents a pound, also at Farmer Jack. Hanover, kale or collard greens are 59 cents a pound at Be-Lo.

Farm Fresh is offering butternut or acron squash for 38 cents a pound, sweet potatoes for 48 cents a pound and broccoli for 68 cents a bunch.

Fresh-baked bread seems to be a popular item this week. Be-Lo has 10-ounce loaves of Italian for 69 cents. At Harris Teeter you can buy one, get one free on crusty round loaves. And English toasting bread is $1.39 at Farm Fresh.

Other bargains this week include Green Giant corn, peas or green beans, five cans for $2 at Farm Fresh, 20-ounce boxes of Kellogg's Raisin Bran for $1.69 at Harris Teeter and 1-pound packages of San Giorgio pasta products for 59 cents at Farmer Jack. At 3 Stores 1 Roof, you'll find 2-liter 7-Up products for 68 cents each.

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