local vs imported produce
Margaret Merrill (mmerrill@leo.vsla.edu)
Mon, 30 Jan 95 11:06:16 EST
This discussion on nutrient quality is an interesting and
important one. I hope it will keep on a bit. My contribution
is sources for information. Back in the 50s and 60s ( I think
) Firman Bear published a bunch of studies and perhaps even a
book linking nutrient quality to the soil type and the amount
of available minerals in the soil. The Europeans have done a
number of studies starting at least in the late 50s on the
storability and nutritional value of "organically-grown" versus
conventionally grown vegetables. There was one study from
Sweden which showed that BioDynamically grown potatoes had a
substantially longer storage life than conventionally grown
ones. I think that the researcher's name was Pederson, but I
could be wrong. It has been too long since I read the study.
Much of the work of William A. Albrecht dealt with the
nutritional quality of plants vis a vis the soil and how one
managed soil fertility. I think that there are some studies in
the nutritional medicine literature which argue that the longer
something is stored the less vitamins and enzymes there are in
it. The Price-Pottenger Foundation in California may have
these studies. It strikes me that since much locally grown
produce is raised under some form of sustainable production
system, that it may be very possible to demonstrate that
locally grown vegetables and fruits are indeed more
nutritious. It is going to take some digging around in the
agricultural literature from the 1920s on if one really wants
to establish a connection. Certainly the soil - health
connection was being discussed then and health is to a large
degree a result of proper nutrition. One can start with the
works of Albert Howard, Evelyn Balfour, William Albrecht, Drs
Pottenger and Price, etc.
Good hunting to this discussion. Best wishes to all.
Margaret
--
Margaret Merrill
Jefferson Madison Regional Library
201 E. Market St.
Charlottesville, VA 22902-5287
mmerrill@leo.vsla.edu