Dry asparagus prompts allegations of racism against Missouri grocery store

The presence of dry asparagus prompted questions of racial discrimination at a Schnucks grocery store in University City, Mo., the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported late Tuesday.

According to Stephen Deere, David Olander, a local resident who serves on the city’s human relations commission, noticed the asparagus was not sitting in any water while shopping in May.

“It was just sitting there dried out,” he said.

Olander asked an assistant manager if the quality of the asparagus had any relationship to the store’s location in a black neighborhood.

"I certainly hope not," the assistant manager reportedly said.

But Olander was so concerned about the asparagus he wrote a letter to CEO Scott Schnuck. That letter prompted a meeting with employees Deere said was "tinged with allegations that the St. Louis area’s largest grocery chain was discriminating against minority communities."

“Schnucks does not discriminate on any level,” spokeswoman Lori Willis said.

Deere said some members of the City Council were upset when they learned someone representing a city commission had leveled racial discrimination accusations against one of the city’s long-standing businesses.

“We want businesses in University City, and in particular we want Schnucks,” said Councilwoman Paulette Carr. “I think it’s a very bad practice on our part to send our citizens to represent the city on sensitive issues such as this.”

But Mayor Shelley Welsch disagreed and doesn't believe the commission acted outside its authority.

Nevertheless, the council forbade the commission to have any more meetings with businesses until the commission’s role was clarified by the city manager and the city attorney, Deere added.

Olander, who reportedly saw fresh asparagus sitting in water just a few miles away, admitted being in a foul mood when he visited the store and said he "just felt like stirring it up a little bit, letting them know that somebody cares.”

Olander reportedly had other issues with the store, such as litter in the parking lot, warm food coolers and out-of-date items on store shelves.

According to the store, the tray of water in which the vegetable sat had simply tipped over the day Olander observed the dry asparagus.

Reaction from readers was incredulous and somewhat sarcastic, with one reader demanding justice for asparagus and DOJ involvment.

Another reader called Olander a "jerk" who should be removed from the commission.

"Quick someone call Jesse Jackson, maybe we should him involved," another reader suggested.

"No asparagus! No peas!" added another reader, playing off the now well-known cry of "No justice, no peace."

Related:

• Portland school sees racism in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• Education consultant says white paper may cause racism in young children
• UK school demands mother declare 7-year-old son racist
• Slate: Racism may explain preference for white turkey meat
• By their actions, liberals prove they are the real racists
• Political Correctness is destroying America

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