North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Lisa Almarode <lisaalmarode@yahoo.com>]

There's a certain amount of, hmm, value or cachet
given to heirlooms: vegetables, chicken or sheep 
breeds, roses, etc.  Often cited is that modern
varities have had the
flavor/hardiness/scent/uniqueness
bred out of them in search of shipability/fast 
growth/high production/perfect blossoms/uniformity, 
i.e. that mass production breds characteristics that 
are desireable for the mass producers, but not 
necessarily for the home grower/small producers.  
Also, that heirlooms tend to be are adapted to a 
particular climate and therefore less suitable for 
national marketing, but possibly more suitable for 
local use.

When it comes to fruit, would you experts say this
tradeoff holds true?  I do get the urge to grow 
heirlooms (tomatoes and livestock as well as 
fruit), but it's a little silly to grow macintosh in 
this area, I think... hmm, as I recall Hudson's Golden

Gem is from southern oregon. 


=====
Lisa in Ashland Oregon
USDA Z7 - Sunset Z7 - 1800' - 19" annual rainfall


        
                
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