Posts Tagged “europe”
by M. H. Traka, Institute of Food Research
Field trials and genetic studies have shown that a new variety of broccoli reliably yields higher levels of a health-promoting compound.
Broccoli contains a compound called glucoraphanin, which has been shown to promote health by maintaining cardiovascular health and a reduction in the risk of cancer. A long term breeding program to increase glucoraphanin levels has resulted in the commercial release of Beneforté broccoli. Beneforté was developed by crossing standard broccoli with a wild relative derived from Sicily.
Publicly funded research to develop Beneforté broccoli was led by two of the UK’s world-leading biological research institutes: the Institute of Food Research and the John Innes Centre, on the Norwich Research Park. They both receive strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
Three years of field trials at over 50 different sites in Europe and the United States have shown that Beneforté broccoli consistently produces 2-3 times the amount of glucoraphanin than other leading varieties of broccoli, without affecting yield, quality or the levels of other nutrients.
Heavenly Villagio Marzano® is an authentic Mini San Marzano tomato originating in Europe and exclusive to Village Farms®, who are the first to offer this new variety to customers in North America. With a better than anticipated response and a sold out season the company is ramping up production for 2013. Sought after by chefs and foodies alike, consumers are also asking grocers for the tomato by name. Heavenly Villagio Marzano® is a great snacking tomato sold in convenient grab and go 1-lb and 10 oz bags. Ideal for the health conscious consumer, it is a versatile tomato wonderful for snacking or salads, stuffed as an appetizer, cooked into a sauce, or try fire roasting to bring out the tomatoes unique flavor.
Part of Village Farms®, “Olde World Flavor™” collection, Heavenly Villagio Marzano®, “Has the authentic tomato flavor experience that is highly desired but generally lacking in many varieties on the market today”, says Helen L. Aquino, Marketing Manager for Village Farms®. Aquino continues, “We hear this over and over again from consumers; Heavenly Villagio Marzano® has Garden Fresh Flavor™.”
Visit Village Farms® at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim at booth number 2510 to see all of the exclusive varieties from the Village Farms® collection or visit us at www.villagefarms.com
About Village Farms:
Village Farms leads the industry as premier grower and marketer in North America of branded, finest quality, hydroponic greenhouse grown produce. Our great tasting fresh vine ripened tomato, bell pepper, and cucumber varieties are handpicked at the peak of flavor. At Village Farms we exceed customer expectations through our unparalleled commitment to quality produce, remarkable food safety standards, and sustainable growing practices utilizing leading edge environmental stewardship principles. Our earth friendly growing methods produce vegetables 365 days a year that are healthier for people and the planet. Village Farms is Good for the Earth®.
Source: Village Farms
By Larry Oscar
A great American from Fritch, Texas once said, “You can’t fix stupid.” Perhaps 
that has never been more true than in today’s global political arena. It’s hard to imagine more glaring examples of stupidity than we have witnessed in government leaders over the past few years. It was Forest Gump’s mother that said, “Stupid is as stupid does.”
That too has been duly noted in the actions of such leaders as Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi. The stupidity of Saddam was astounding. He would still be alive and the leader in Iraq if he had just let the UN inspectors back into his country, thrown them a party, and let them inspect and visit anything in the country their heart desired. In fact, he should have invited George Bush and Bill Clinton over for a bunga-bunga party. Instead he had to act tough and thumb his nose at the world. The result was he ended up swinging from a rope Texas style.
Now we have that little runt with a huge nose from Iran threatening to “Wipe Israel off of the face of the Earth.” And at the same time celebrating his country’s march toward nuclear technology that will ultimately end in nuclear weapons. What a complete fool. What would you do if your neighbor down the street threatened to “wipe you off of the face of the Earth,” and then proceeded to build a bomb in his garage. Would you wait until his bomb was complete before taking action? Would you sit idly by like the Jews did in World War II and just let him exterminate you? Or would you learn from history and defend yourself while you still had the power to do so?
It’s hard to imagine what goes through these bozo’s little minds. There are many roads to Rome. And if you want to accomplish things in life you need to study the roads toward your goal with some thought and circumstance. Emotions will be your worst enemy. The emotional route will almost certainly be the most costly for you. For example, the best way for the Muslim countries to deal with Israel is through friendship and trade and not through religious emotionalism. Take a look at Europe for example. Germany fought WWII to conquer Europe and what was the result? Their own destruction. However, by working hard as capitalists and establishing free trade, they now own Europe. They have now accomplished through Capitalism what they were unable to accomplish through the forces of war.
We are now at another crossroads in the world. We still have leaders that do not understand the power of capitalism or how it works. They are still preaching the failed promises of Socialism-Marxism and ignoring the historical failures of this philosophy such as the Soviet Union, East Germany, North Korea, Greece, and Cuba. The only conclusion you can come to is that they are blinded by their own stubborn stupidity. No system is perfect. And all systems of government will leave some people behind, but only Capitalism lets the people use their creative talents to the fullest, and that generates the greatest wealth for the greatest numbers.
Without Capitalism we would not have had Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, or Oprah Winfrey. We are now facing a critical election; one that will determine if we are to retain a Socialist-Marxist leaning President who thinks that we should all have equal amounts of “stuff,” and that the government should tell us what to eat and how to live our lives.
Or do we move forward and choose a new President that will remove the burdensome weight of this government from our backs, and let us live free creative lives according to our own abilities as the founding fathers of this country envisioned. There are always risks in life. None of us has a guarantee that we will even be alive tomorrow, but one thing is for sure, if we are not free to develop the talents that are given to us by God, then we will pay a price far greater than life itself.
This nation has the richest poor on the face of the Earth. We have the only poor people with big screen TVs, cell phones, cars, and air conditioned housing. We will always have the poor, and it is Capitalism that will keep them from living in mud huts like they do in other countries! The best way to redistribute wealth is with a paycheck, and not a welfare check. If you want tomatoes you have to grow healthy tomato plants. If you want jobs you must grow healthy corporations, and not a bloated overgrown government that is funded with borrowed money!
When shopping in your favorite supermarket, here’s a few things to be check out.
Chilean grapes – Although the Chilean table grapes I’ve had this season have 
been pretty tasty (sweet), there are reports of quality issues with some of the fruit lacking in size (which I’ve seen plenty of), to lack of color and quality. I can live the smaller sizes of the individual grapes, and even if they don’t look as pretty as usual. In fact, with too many fruits and vegetables, there is way too much emphasis on beauty, or color. The old saying beauty is only skin deep applies here.
It is the taste; the quality; that really matters. One reason there are so many disppointments with tomatoes, for example, is too much emphasis over the years has been placed on “glamour” or beauty. You take home these gorgeous looking items, but find the taste is lacking.
One other note. There have been about 10 percent fewer Chilean grapes arriving this season into the U.S. than a year ago. There has been a lot more competition of the fruit from such world markets as Europe and Asia. That means less supply here in America, and you end up paying more……Does this remind anyone of our soaring gasoline and diesel fuel prices? Part of the reason is oil is being shipped to the U.S, then it is refined. However, instead of you and I buying and using it; other countries such as China are purchasing it. Sure it’s free market at work, but we as consumers are getting the shaft at the same time. But that is another story for another time.
Asparagus –