Market Farming

[Aaron Brower <aaronbrower AT yahoo.com>]

I always maintain a selection of heirlooms but there are many considerations besides taste: disease resistance, storability, heat, cold, wet, and dry resistance, to name only a few. 

I grow multiple varieties of as many vegetables as possible, realizing the that each has its place and may thrive or suffer depending on various conditions. Maintaining heirloom varieties is of great importance but improving vegetable varieties is also important. Around this farm we call heirlooms "unimproved," meant as a humorous moniker to lessen the hysteria sometimes associated with them.

Also, I cant say I know much about the specific nutrition content of heirloom vs. hybrid but I imagine it is much more complicated than simply stating that heirlooms are more nutritious, just as it is not true that heirlooms are always more tasty. It has more to do with soil health and the timing of waterings and harvesting.

Aaron

 

From: Joe Tittiger <joe AT tittiger.com>
To: Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Sat, February 5, 2011 1:26:03 PM
Subject: [Market-farming] Monsanto owned seeds

Heirlooms for the most part is the most nutritious so why would anyone buy hybrids owned by Monsanto or anyone else?
Don't you grow  food mostly for the nutrition and taste?   Anyhow I am surprised to see that it is even an issue with anyone.