Appendix 5. Health notes and top ten reasons vegetables and fruits are important Nutritional reasons 1. Major source of dietary fiber. 2. Natural nutraceuticals for human health. 3. Provides essential vitamins and minerals for good health. Consumer reasons 4. Offers dietary diversity in tastes and natural colors in foods. 5. Natural flavors and textures for dining enjoyment. 6. Simple to prepare, convenient to eat, and offers “fun foods”. 7. Fills niche markets and provides ethnic foods. Economic reasons 8. Maximize use of good climates, soils, and water resources. 9. Provide profitable jobs for rural people and farm families. 10. Offers alternatives and economic strengths for rural communities. Nutritional factoids: fruits and vegetables are rich sources of healthful products. To name a few: antioxidants-onions and garlic beta carotene-carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens folic acid-dried beans, oranges, and spinach indoles-broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower lutein-kale and spinach lycopene-tomatoes and watermelons Growing a healthy garden (notes from Dr. Doug Welsh, TCE horticulturist) A small garden, using transplants, can supply your family with health products Cabbage • plant 10 feet of row per person for the winter season • allow 65 to 100 days to maturity Broccoli • plant 10 to 20 feet of row per person, matures in 65 to 110 days Cauliflower • plant 5 to 10 feet of row per person and harvest in 65 to 90 days

Texas Crops Index | Extension Horticulture Index | Aggie Horticulture