samedi 22 juin 2013

Why Buy Fresh Hydroponic Lettuce In Alaska

By Lila Barry


Alaska is situated in the far north and so has a cold climate which is not great for growing vegetables. For most of the year produce is shipped in from other regions which raises prices and causes pollution. Buying fresh hydroponic lettuce in Alaska is better for the environment and for consumers.

For a short period in the summer there are lots of great local fruit and vegetables available throughout Alaska but for the other nine months of the year it is not possible to grow them. Lettuce is especially sensitive to a cold climate and so is transported from other places and so is not fresh. Now there is a solution in the form of hydroponic farming.

The system has been used for decades in some countries and has produced excellent products year after year in many different climates. Hydroponic is the method of cultivating plants in nutrient rich water rather than soil. It usually takes place in greenhouses so can be done regardless of the weather.

Researchers have carried out test on lettuce grown in different conditions to see whether people could tell the difference. One experiment asked subjects to rate organic, regular and hydroponic lettuce for taste, texture and appearance. The subjects did not notice much difference between the three types and said that they liked them all equally.

This is great for a region such as Alaska where the only supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables are shipped from other places which are sometimes thousands of miles away. When this happens the produce is often expensive as fuel costs drive up the price of transport. It also causes extra traffic and pollution on the roads.

Transportation of lettuce can lead to a product with less flavor and bad texture. As soon as it is picked lettuce starts to go off. Modern packaging means that it lasts much longer than it used to but this hides the fact that the nutrients are degrading. Essential vitamins and minerals start to break down when the plant is cut so it is better for health reason to buy local lettuce. Nutrient deficiency has been associated with a variety of health problems and diseases and so local produce is an essential part of a healthy diet.

There is another way that hydroponic farming impacts health and that is because the method requires fewer chemicals to be used on the plants. It usually takes place in a greenhouse and so there are fewer pests and insects to contest with. The farmers use far less bug spray. They also do not need to put many chemical fertilizers on the crops as there is no water run-off. The nutrients come from natural additives in the water which the plants grow in.

There are several ways in which fresh hydroponic lettuce in Alaska is better for consumers: it is healthier because it contains higher levels of nutrients than lettuce which has been shipped in, fresher lettuce tastes better, it uses lower levels of chemicals and so is better for the environment and human health, it can be cheaper due to reduced transport costs.




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