Dale et al,
Perhaps Heinz or Gerber would fund this, I think both have organic baby
food lines - or maybe Newman's own with Nell's interest in organics.
I suggest both east and west coast samples though. If we agreed to start
with larger organic growers, who use conventional tillage equipment (sorry,
Steve no-till is still new is west cost veggies, as you've seen) this
would eliminate the argument over boutique raised bed micro-cultures (like
mine) and would no doubt have more "credibility" when published. Cal
Organics, Natural Selections, Pavich, and Small Planet out this way all
have large and comparable operations to conventional equipment, irrigation,
row culture, harvesting, etc.
Having said all that, Steve has a point. He uses a SYSTEMS that builds and
protects soil. In my heart of hearts, I believe that is what will make the
nutritional difference. Good organic culture should, in theory be that
way, a systems approach, not a mere substitution of a "permitted" input for
a "banned" one.
Marcie
>
>I think all this is eminently do-able. IMO it would take four things:
>1. Statistically sound sampling plan
>2. Definition of relevant nutritional analysis targets
>3. Someone to shepard the project and manage logistics
>4. Money to do the testing
>
>I think it would be best to target a limited geographical area, one that has
>a fairly high density of vegetable production. Samples could be taken at,
>or just before harvest, to avoid post-harvest effects. Samples could be
>sent to a commercial lab. It could probably be done for about $20,000.
>Maybe some food scientist can get a grant. The support of this list
>community might make the proposal more attractive.
>
>Dale
>
>
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Marcie A. Rosenzweig
Full Circle Organic Farm
Auburn, CA
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