And Top Ten Reasons Vegetables and Fruits are Important
Nutritional reasons
- Major source of dietary fiber.
- Natural nutraceuticals for human health.
- Provides essential vitamins and minerals for good health.
Consumer reasons
- Offers dietary diversity in tastes and natural colors in foods.
- Natural flavors and textures for dining enjoyment.
- Simple to prepare, convenient to eat, and offers “fun foods”.
- Fills niche markets and provides ethnic foods.
Economic reasons
- Maximize use of good climates, soils, and water resources.
- Provide profitable jobs for rural people and farm families.
- 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, Extension 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
