Fruit Facts

Posts Tagged ‘fruit nutrition’

OTTAWA – The increasing number of Canadians are getting really sick after eating bacteria-laden fresh produce, even though reported cases of food poisoning have though declined overall in the last 20 years, the Public Health Agency of Canada said on Wednesday.

Although more people are focused on the healthy eating today compared to the few decades ago, the rise of food borne illnesses actually linked to fresh produce highlights the fact some food producers and also distributors might not be doing sufficient to prevent bacterial contamination, said Dr. Paul Sockett, the director of the agency’s food borne, waterborne and other zoonotic infections division.

Popularity: 4% [?]

WASHINGTON – Growers of fruits, vegetables, nuts and other nursery crops will surely gain a larger share of the U.S. farm plan under a bill unveiled by 50 U.S. representatives on Wednesday.

The so-called Eat Healthy America bill will now require federal nutrition programs to use more fruits and vegetables, offer block grants to enlarge domestic markets, expand research into “specialty” crops and also encourage land stewardship.

The bill is backed by four dozen specialty-crop groups, as well as the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association and the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance.

Popularity: 5% [?]

There has been some recent buzz in Hollywood about so-called “strawberry cocaine.” TMZ did some crack study and got the low down on the blow.

Flavored cocaine is not anything new, we’re told. Law enforcement basis tell us that since the 80s people have been trade coke in all sorts of flavors, as well as rum and cherry, and now it appears strawberry are back and all the rage.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, which strawberry flavoring is additional to the drug to give it its fruity flavor. Years ago just adding food coloring was big thing– brown and also red cocaine was the talk of the town. Theoretically, you can make or add any flavor you’d like to the drug.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Be ready to pay out more at the grocery store for your fruits and vegetables this fall.

A perfect gale has gathered in the Northwest to create higher costs for produce and higher prices for all of us.

Our booming economy is partially to blame for the higher prices you’ll pay out for apples, corn and other fresh produce this year.

Perhaps the largest element of that “perfect storm” is short of workers to pick our crops — a condition that might change the face of Washington produce forever.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Srinagar: With non-Kashmiri fruit glutting markets in huge quantities outside Kashmiri, people connected with fruit industry in the valley have become extremely concerned. Witnessing foreign fruit occupying the stalls before adorned by Kashmiri apple, apricot and cherry, valley-based fruit growers accuse government of neglecting the grave horticulture industry.

“Given its huge contribution to the state domestic product government need to frame a comprehensive policy for horticulture development in the state,” says Muhammad Mudassir a young fruit grower.

In apple farming that occupies a predominant position Mudassir argues government requires encouraging high-density plantations, reducing gestation period and making huge investments to lift cold storage facility.

According to agriculture minister the proposed board will assist in forming policies for the horticulture industry in the state.

The board will also discover possibilities of financing intensive projects from external sources and financial institutions besides exploring opportunities in post-harvest sector and market device for horticulture produce.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life for many Americans. Studies show people are living longer and enjoying more active lifestyles. Consumers are increasingly interested in eating better without giving up great taste. It turns out that simple fruit might be the fountain of youth no matter what your age.

Studies show that fruit contains many usual health benefits. Due to advances in food technology, we are only just beginning to find out the many health secrets Mother Nature has placed in simple everyday fruit. In fact, in early 2005, the U.S.D.A. revealed the updated version of the food pyramid that increased their advice for fruit and vegetables to five to nine servings per day.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Ask any nutrition expert and they’ll tell you that there are lots of causes to treat in fruits during the summer. “I frequently tell people that if you eat more fruit, you might feel a tendency for your sweet tooth to decline and your tendency for chocolate to decline,” said registered dietician Chrisy O’Conor. As the chocolate desires decline, you waistline might, too. Plus, a new government report found that picking up fruits with the most antioxidants or disease-fighting nutrients could also help keep your heart healthy and fight off certain types of cancer. While there really are no bad fruits, scientists working with the USDA rated what they believe to be the ten best based it on antioxidant score, per serving:

1) Blueberries (nearly 13,000 antioxidant score per serving)
2) Cranberries (9,000)
3) Blackberries (7,700)
4) Raspberries (6,100)
5) Strawberries (~6,000)
6) Apples (5,900)
7) Cherries (4,900)
Black Plums (4,800)
9) Avocados (3,400)
10) Pears (3,200)

A serving of most fruits is about 1/2 cup or one medium apple, avocado, or pear.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Beans, cucumbers and corn aren’t quite as abundant this year because of the drought. But tomatoes are mature and ready right now. The owner at Red’s Market in Rothschild says the climate hasn’t hurt the red fruit too much. You’ll also find plenty of watermelons and musk melons, since they flourish in heat. And sure types of squash are previously making their debut.

“The heat brought the ripeness on in early August instead of early September. So we’re looking at 3 weeks to a month ahead on this crop,” says David McGowan, owner of Red’s.

But the drought has taken its fee on the size of the acorn squash. Mcgowan says they’re typically twice as large.

Popularity: 3% [?]

JAPANESE firm, Sumitomo Fruits Corp (Sumifru), which has been rising about 4,000 hectares of land in T’boli, Calinan, Toril and North Cotabato for its banana plantation project, plans to enlarge its plan with some P1-billion expansion fund.

Sumifru would undertake a major expansion of its banana plantation, bringing to P6.5 billion its total investment in the banana plantation while December 2004.

In December 2004, Sumifru has started its banana plantation operations, planted about 4,000 hectares of bananas and spend P800-million to develop the infrastructure to support it.

Now, Sumifru intends to plant more than 4,000 hectares to about 5,800 hectares and would spend P1-billion more said plan to contain infrastructure.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Now is the time to choose whether or not to grow fruits or nuts. Consider the time, labor, logistics, and chemicals concerned in producing these crops. Are you eager to do what should be done to insure production? Do you have an appropriate location? Fruit, such as blackberries, figs, Japanese persimmons, and pears, are low-maintenance crops. The hardest to care for are peaches, plums, apricots, and pecans.

For maximum manufacture, fruit plants need at least 6 hours of full sunlight daily. Extremely shaded landscapes are not perfect sites for fruit planting.

Soil and drainage are also significant considerations. Most fruit and nut species cannot tolerate extreme periods of ‘wet feet’. Fruit trees planted in soil with poor drainage show abridged growth, pale green leaves, iron chlorosis, zinc rosette, and in some extreme cases, drought stress. These symptoms occur when there is not enough oxygen obtainable in the soil, and the plant is unable to soak up the essential nutrients necessary for growth, even though it can be standing in water. Growing trees and shrubs on large, raised beds could progress soil drainage where the native soil is unsuitable.

You can contact Dennis Smith the Gregg County Extension Office by e-mail at dg-smith@tamu.edu or telephone at: 903-236-8429 for further information.

Popularity: 7% [?]