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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] article by Allan Balliett

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  • From: Bill Shoemaker <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] article by Allan Balliett
  • Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:04:08 -0600 (CST)

I'd encourage all of you to use this tool (refractometer). You'll learn a lot
about the crops and the market you deal with.

Couple of suggestions. Sample some of the produce in the supermarkets around
you, test it, and think about the qualitative difference the results reveal
between the fresh product you sell and the "unfresh" product they sell. Does
that represent a market value?

Second, sugar in plants comes from photosynthesis. This is the most important
living function on earth, as it takes sunlight and creates food. Watching
brix levels in your crops creates an opportunity to think about; the health
of your crops, why others (bugs, fungi, deer, .....) want to eat them, and
the health of the ecosystem around you. We live in an amazing biosphere! For
me, it also gives amazing insight into the very nature of life (like I really
know??! ":o )

Bill

> A restaurant owner in Chicago introduced me to this
> concept by requesting Brix measurements on the day
> of harvest on all produce sent to him.

> I'm assuming this is the same Allan Balliett from
> our list here. Very good article on Brix and the
> outcomes for food. I'm new to the whole idea of
> high brix food, but I was very pleased after my
> first year of growing with it last year.
William H Shoemaker, UI-Crop Sciences
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174
630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610




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