Interesting article on disappearing foods

Discussion in 'Recipes and Cooking' started by marlingardener, Jan 23, 2016.

  1. marlingardener

    marlingardener Happy

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  3. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    That was a longish, but interesting article.
    Thanks for the link.
     
  4. 2ofus

    2ofus Hardy Maple

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    I found the article very interesting. I try to watch what we eat but I'm still chained to what is available in the grocery store and what I am able to grow as most people are.
     
  5. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

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    That article is an eye-opener for certain. I do hope the diversity might grow again. It's fun to eat something different, but it's hard to find in the shops.
     



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  6. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    In 1903 there were not all the cultivars (varieties) that are available today. Each variety means a change has been made in the basic DNA of a plant that will make it ripen quicker, ripen slower for shipment, the color brighter or different completely, grow in a climate that is not native or normal, be more drought/deer/rabbit/disease resistant or at least tolerant, etc. Trouble is sometimes those improvements mean giving up the way they used to taste in the good old days.

    With the 'improvements' farmers grew fewer and fewer of the heirloom varieties because the buyers (individuals and food processors) wanted foods with the new and improved features. So more land was given over to the new versions, making more money for the farmers who couldn't afford to use their land for anything that didn't pay the bills. And some old varieties died out before anyone thought to save seeds for the future.

    There are some seed companies, that specialize in heirloom varieties, trying to make home growers aware of the lost veggies and fruits and hoping to make them more common now and in the future.
     
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  7. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Great article MG. Thank you for posting it. My town's local library has a 'seed bank' of heirloom vegie varieties. 2015 was my first year growing vegetables in the local community garden, so 'borrowing' heirloom seeds, growing them over the summer & 'returning' seeds back to the library felt a little too much for me in my first year.

    But I am now intrigued & will check into it when seeds are posted again. I wonder how complicated it will be; for example do you have to protect the heirloom plants from getting cross fertilized by hybrid vegies growing nearby? I bet you do.

    Has any one else done this?
     
  8. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    You might call the local County Extension office and ask what the procedure is but I would think that preventing cross pollination would be a priority.
     
  9. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Thanks Toni. I am assuming there will be directions at the library & on the seed packets.... It might be a bit of a trick preventing cross pollination, especially in a community garden. Maybe tight row covers?
     

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