Alaska is situated in the far north and so has a cold climate which is not great for growing vegetables. For most of the year produce is shipped in from other regions which raises prices and causes pollution. Buying fresh hydroponic lettuce in Alaska is better for the environment and for consumers.
For a short period in the summer there are lots of great local fruit and vegetables available throughout Alaska but for the other nine months of the year it is not possible to grow them. Lettuce is especially sensitive to a cold climate and so is transported from other places and so is not fresh. Now there is a solution in the form of hydroponic farming.
The system has been used for decades in some countries and has produced excellent products year after year in many different climates. Hydroponic is the method of cultivating plants in nutrient rich water rather than soil. It usually takes place in greenhouses so can be done regardless of the weather.
Researchers have carried out test on lettuce grown in different conditions to see whether people could tell the difference. One experiment asked subjects to rate organic, regular and hydroponic lettuce for taste, texture and appearance. The subjects did not notice much difference between the three types and said that they liked them all equally.
This has big implications for Alaska as it means that fresh produce can be grown throughout the year. Producers can cut their transport costs significantly and pass on these savings to customers. Having to transport fruit and vegetables over long distances is expensive and detrimental to the product. It also causes pollution which is unnecessary when those products can be produced to a high standard locally.
Most people realize that a healthy diet contains a high proportion of fresh foods. Fresh lettuce contains many of the vitamins and minerals the human body needs to stay healthy. If the lettuce has travelled a long distance it will have reduced levels of nutrients as they start to break down as soon as the plants are harvested. This breaking down of nutrients also leads to loss of flavor and a less crunchy texture. Local and fresh means better taste and better for health.
There is another way that hydroponic farming impacts health and that is because the method requires fewer chemicals to be used on the plants. It usually takes place in a greenhouse and so there are fewer pests and insects to contest with. The farmers use far less bug spray. They also do not need to put many chemical fertilizers on the crops as there is no water run-off. The nutrients come from natural additives in the water which the plants grow in.
There are several ways in which fresh hydroponic lettuce in Alaska is better for consumers: it is healthier because it contains higher levels of nutrients than lettuce which has been shipped in, fresher lettuce tastes better, it uses lower levels of chemicals and so is better for the environment and human health, it can be cheaper due to reduced transport costs.
For a short period in the summer there are lots of great local fruit and vegetables available throughout Alaska but for the other nine months of the year it is not possible to grow them. Lettuce is especially sensitive to a cold climate and so is transported from other places and so is not fresh. Now there is a solution in the form of hydroponic farming.
The system has been used for decades in some countries and has produced excellent products year after year in many different climates. Hydroponic is the method of cultivating plants in nutrient rich water rather than soil. It usually takes place in greenhouses so can be done regardless of the weather.
Researchers have carried out test on lettuce grown in different conditions to see whether people could tell the difference. One experiment asked subjects to rate organic, regular and hydroponic lettuce for taste, texture and appearance. The subjects did not notice much difference between the three types and said that they liked them all equally.
This has big implications for Alaska as it means that fresh produce can be grown throughout the year. Producers can cut their transport costs significantly and pass on these savings to customers. Having to transport fruit and vegetables over long distances is expensive and detrimental to the product. It also causes pollution which is unnecessary when those products can be produced to a high standard locally.
Most people realize that a healthy diet contains a high proportion of fresh foods. Fresh lettuce contains many of the vitamins and minerals the human body needs to stay healthy. If the lettuce has travelled a long distance it will have reduced levels of nutrients as they start to break down as soon as the plants are harvested. This breaking down of nutrients also leads to loss of flavor and a less crunchy texture. Local and fresh means better taste and better for health.
There is another way that hydroponic farming impacts health and that is because the method requires fewer chemicals to be used on the plants. It usually takes place in a greenhouse and so there are fewer pests and insects to contest with. The farmers use far less bug spray. They also do not need to put many chemical fertilizers on the crops as there is no water run-off. The nutrients come from natural additives in the water which the plants grow in.
There are several ways in which fresh hydroponic lettuce in Alaska is better for consumers: it is healthier because it contains higher levels of nutrients than lettuce which has been shipped in, fresher lettuce tastes better, it uses lower levels of chemicals and so is better for the environment and human health, it can be cheaper due to reduced transport costs.
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