Consumers get answers from Department of Agriculture

Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs Tommy Irvin, Commissioner. Call Consumer Q's hotline at 1-800-

282-5852.

What should I look for when

buying Vidalia onions?

A fresh Vidalia onion has a light, golden-brown bulb and white interior. Its shape is rounded on the bottom and somewhat flat on the top or stem end. Look for firm onions that are not decayed or blemished. There should be no sprouts attached and the skins should be dry. The real key to enjoying your Vidalia onions is storing them properly at home. They should be kept cool, dry and separate. You can place them on a screen or wire rack as long as they do not touch one another. The storage method most people use is the legs of pantyhose. The onions should be placed individually in the legs with a knot tied between each onion to keep them separate.

Q: I have pink azaleas in my front yard, and I would like to add about four more pink ones to the side. How can I be sure that the azaleas I buy will be pink?

A: If you want to be sure the azaleas you buy are pink, wait until the nursery stock has started to bloom. There will be time to plant the flow- ering shrubs, and you will know exactly what color you have bought.

Q: I recently purchased bottled water that said it was filtered and ozonated. What does ozonated mean?

A: What you are describing is a method currently used to purify air and water without the use of chemicals. When ozone is produced, it is in essence, supercharged oxygen that sterilizes water and air.

Q: Can you cook ice cream?

A: Actually, you should always make an egg-based ice cream from cooked, stirred custard. After cooking and cooling, transfer the custard to a small container, then quickly and thoroughly chill it before freezing. Custard that cools too slowly provides an ideal temperature for bacterial growth. If you are making several batches and your refrigeration facilities are not adequate for quick cooling, substitute pasteurized shell eggs or refrigerated liquid or frozen eggs for the eggs in your recipe.

If you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, you may write the Office of Public Affairs, Room 224, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta 30334 or you may call 1-800-282-5852.