North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Doreen Howard" <gardendiva@charter.net>]

I know a little about the new USDA hardiness map, as I recently interviewed 
the government people responsible for the development and release of the new 
one. According to Kim Kaplan, spokesperson for the Agricultural Research 
Service, an arm of the USDA, the new hardiness map will be available later 
this year.  She hedged, as to time of release, but from what she didn't say, 
I figure mid-summer.

The current map was released in 1990 and is based on weather data from 1977 
to 1989.  The new map, based on expanded climate data from 1977 through 
2000, will only be available on the Internet, however, and cover just the 
United States. Canada is NOT included.  The country is broken down into 15 
plant hardiness zones to reflect the growth of warmer regions where 
sub-tropical and tropical plants now succeed.  There are no immediate plans 
to print it, as the map is digitally interactive, allowing you to zero in on 
your county or even your town for exact low temperature information.
Doreen Howard
Zone 4b, where it's currently -4F, but the sun is shining!