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FACTS
Three of the Most Profitable Hydroponic Crops
A hydroponic grower could do well cultivating some of the most profitable
hydroponic crops. While cannabis is the most profitable crop to grow, many
will be interested to know ginseng is right behind marijuana. In 2018, ginseng
fetched between $500-600 per pound. For centuries the root has been
used for various health purposes. More recently it’s been used in energy
drinks. Some will be surprised to hear bay leaves are also another profitable
hydroponic crop. Last year a pound of bay leaves was worth $30 per pound.
They’re used to add taste and aroma to sauces and dishes. The herb comes in
several varieties including California bay leaf, Indonesian bay leaf, and Mexican
bay leaf. Also making the list is tarragon, which was worth $16 a pound in 2018.
Tarragon nicely complements meats like fish and chicken and is predominantly
used in French cuisine. However, it also has and can be used to induce sleep,
increase appetite, improve cardiovascular health, and even for pain relief.
— igrow.news
How Tomato Plants Fight Bacterial Attacks
New research shows how tomato plants emit an aroma that wards off
attacks from bacteria. A finding published in Frontiers in Plant Science
shows tomatoes produce a compound called hexenyl butyrate (HB),
which has significant potential for protecting crops from infections and
drought. “The application of this compound in fields is a new natural
strategy for improving crop yields. Treatments will protect crops
from biotic and abiotic stress,” says Purificación Lisón, researcher at
the Institute for Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology. The compound
closes the stomata, which is the key to protecting plants. Another
advantage is that it is easy to use. As a volatile compound, it can
be applied by spraying onto plants or by using diffuser devices.
Researchers have proven the treatment of the tomato plants with HB
causes the closing of the stomata, protecting them from infection by
the Pseudomonas syringae bacteria, increasing their resistance to it.
— phys.org
Greenhouse Grower Reducing Plastic Packaging
Canadian lettuce producer Inspired Greens has reduced its plastic
use by packaging its products in a recyclable sleeve rather than the
traditional plastic domed clamshell. Greenhouse lettuce is usually
sold completely encased in plastic, but Inspired Greens is changing
all that and helping the environment in the process. “Retailers
across North America are thrilled with our open sleeve concept
for living lettuce,” says David Karwacki, CEO of The Star Group of
Companies, which built the Inspired Greens greenhouses. “The
beautiful presentation brings the produce department alive, and the
massive reduction in plastic has been a home run.” Inspired Greens
has produced more than 15 million heads and, according to their
calculations, effectively transformed two million pounds of hard
plastic to less than 100,000 pounds of recyclable sleeves. “This is just
one item in the produce department, but everything helps. Inspired
Greens has reduced plastic by 20 times,” says Karwacki.
— freshplaza.com
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