Mincemeat still sells in a couple of area bakeries and grocery stores, mostly a staple of the older crowd, said Kathy Edwards, manager of the Hermitage Bakery.

“I don’t think it’s the younger person unless they’ve been raised where it’s tradition. I think it’s an acquired taste,” Ms. Edwards said. “Let’s say a young person, 18 years old, off the street, wouldn’t come in and get a mincemeat pie.”

She said her bakery still manages to sell some pies to the older crowd during the holiday season, Thanksgiving to Christmas. Their pies forgo the traditional meat, though, and are mostly fruit.

Mincemeat pies are due in at D’Onofrio’s Food Center, Hermitage, closer to Christmas, said bakery manager Patti Kocis. But it’s rare that people ask for them. “I’m lucky if I sell eight to 16 mincemeat pies over the holidays.”

On the other hand, she said they usually go through closer to 50 apple pies or 400 pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving.

Ed D’Onofrio, co-owner of Mr. D’s Food Fair in Brookfield, said mincemeat isn’t a big seller, though a few people will ask for them.

“We used to sell the mincemeat, I could get it in, but then my supplier quit handling that,” said Apple Castle owner Lyle Johnston.

There just aren’t enough orders to justify the large quantity of filling he would have to order to get it in, he said.

Mincemeat has an image problem, but some still love it

By Beth J. Harpaz

Associated Press Writer