MAX
facts
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Safe Salad Mixes
Outbreaks of foodborne illness have been associated with bagged salad greens.
Mechanical cutting of lettuce leaves into large pieces or shredding of leaves into
narrow strips, like those in taco filling, breaks lettuce cells. The broken cells
exude carbohydrates, which the microbe can use as a source of energy. But
injured cells can also leak natural compounds such as antimicrobials that are
problematic for the pathogen.
A study with romaine lettuce showed that E. coli, when exposed in lab tests
to the contents of broken lettuce leaf cells, can adapt quickly. Using an approach known as microarray-based whole genome transcriptional profiling, researchers determined that the pathogen uses its genetic arsenal
to protect itself against not only the antimicrobial compounds, but
also against oxidative stress, osmotic stress, damage to its DNA
and other threats to its ability to survive and multiply.
(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)
Canada’s First School-based Market Garden
Students of Bendale Business and Technical Institute in Scarborough, Ontario have been
growing red and yellow chard and other crops for their landscaping and gardening class
in what is believed to be Canada’s first school-based market garden. Culinary art students
transform the crops into meals for the teacher’s cafeteria and the student cafeteria. Excess produce is also bundled and sold at a community farm market.
Almost 1,800 pounds of food has been harvested thus far.
(Source: www.thestar.com)
That Roof is Alive!
New York State’s 36,000 farms can supply perhaps 40 per cent of local food
needs, so unless all New York residents become victory gardeners overnight,
we will continue to depend on food imported from thousands of miles
away. Building owners motivated to lower HVAC costs, speed building approvals and lower cons G'V7F