It’s a harmless little tag, to be sure, and probably helps keep the peasants from starving.

Only — harmless or not — I find those little stickers on my fruit to be a royal pain. The geography lesson escapes me since I have to unpeel each label from its skin — so far apple, pear, orange and banana (Minor and I really don’t go in much for the more exotic fruits) before tossing said remains in my compost. If it’s taking what seems like forever for the fruit to be digested, it would obviously take much longer for sticky labels. And, presuming my compost will find its way to my garden, I don’t want to see it full of those stickers.

I know my fruit comes from places far, far south of Cassadaga. My lemon tree (one a year if I’m lucky) and the fig produce dependably, though they do get dragged inside as the temperatures drop. Actually, my banana plant did produce funny little bananas — once. They weren’t edible and ultimately fell off, though I had enjoyed the flowers.

But why broadcast to me whether my fruit is from Honduras, Guatemala, or even the good ol’ U S of A?

What I actually picture is not the country of the label. Or even memories of being there, which one might expect to pop back into my mind. No, I see people working — indoors, I imagine, sticking each of those — well, yes, sticky — labels piece by piece on my cluster of fruit. It’s employment, to be sure, but does it serve any actual purpose? Or really help anyone?

For that matter, am I, the educated shopper, expected to buy my produce based on what country exported it? Do I play favorites? Should I? I wonder if any grocery store carries any one fruit from more than one country. If I want oranges, for instance, do I pass up the offerings at Tops to go instead to Aldi? Save a Lot? or even Jamestown? My research is admittedly limited but would any retailer hawk the same food from more than one country?

Will I — should I — feel guilty (or even conscientious) when I make my choice?

Do I want a banana from Costa Rica — or the one from Guatemala? I went to school with a dear friend from Guatemala. Should that affect my shopping choices now, long after our 50th reunion? And the orange … buy USA I hear all the time, but those from Chili are super flavorsome. And, truly, do I need even more decisions forced upon me? And at meal time, too.

Turns out the orange (USA) is easier to peel (a bit) but not very good. Shouldn’t taste count too? Am I unpatriotic — heavens! — to go with the one from Chili? I know — I can only peel it with my teeth, meaning it’s almost (but not quite) “second hand” before I slice a few portions for Minor.

And no, the dog doesn’t get a vote.

I thank my daughter for introducing me to golden delicious apples. Like her, I’ll buy nothing else nowadays. (And I do presume they all come from the USA. No decision required there — I hope.)

I’ve had enough. Just let me eat in peace.

Susan Crossett has lived outside Cassadaga for more than 20 years. A lifetime of writing led to these columns as well as two novels. Her Reason for Being was published in 2008 with Love in Three Acts following in 2014. Information on all the Musings, her books and the author may be found at Susancrossett.com.