MAX FACTS
growing tips, news and trivia
Tasty Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a $2 billion crop in the United States, but a common complaint is that the varieties in supermarkets
often lack the flavor of locally grown varieties. To improve flavor, breeders need to know more about the types of
tomatoes that hold the greatest potential for enhancing taste. USDA researchers are exploring the tomato’s diversity in a study designed to help breeders develop tastier tomatoes. The team raised 173 varieties on test plots in
North Carolina, trained 10 volunteers in sensory analysis and asked them to rate the varieties on a scale of one to
five in four sensory areas: odor, taste, flavor and texture. Findings show that although thousands of compounds go
into determining flavor and other characteristics, two components play a key role: the amounts of sugar and acid.
(Source: ars.usda.gov)
Aquaponics Leads
to Fish Tacos
A portion of Rob Handler’s tilapia harvest
from his aquaponics set-up at Michigan
Technical University was recently used to
make fish tacos served at a residence hall.
“Tilapia are a hardy fish that grow well in a controlled
environment,” says Rob, whose aquaponics research
is a combination of biology, chemistry and engineering. In his system, pipes galore run between fish
tanks, storage tanks and the plant beds, which are
made up of small clay pebbles. Roots of his tall cherry tomatoes plants don’t have to branch out as far
because all the nutrients are delivered right to them.
The fish tacos that resulted were a resounding success,
says Judy Klutts of Wadsworth Hall Dining Services. “We
combined them with coleslaw made with carrots and cabbage from our garden, so it really was a sustainable meal.”
(Source: mtu.edu)
Hooked on Hawaiian Aquaponics
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the
Aquaculture Program of the University of Hawaii, is surveying
grocery retailers and restaurants in Hawaii to explore the viability of
aquaponic farming in the marketplace. They are looking at several
factors, such as market acceptance, demand level, preferred product
form, packaging and price points for produce and fish produced by
aquaponic farms. Research will help farmers better understand the
benefits and viability of aquaponics as a method for raising fish and
specialty crops simultaneously. This is the first aquaponic project
ever awarded a grant through the USDA’s Federal-State Marketing
Improvement Program. A wide variety of foods, such as lettuce,
beans, broccoli, cucumbers, peas, herbs, strawberries, melons
and tomatoes, all flourish through aquaponic farming.
(Source: blogs.usda.gov)
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Maximum Yield USA | January 2014