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vendredi 21 juin 2013

Is Fresh Hydroponic Lettuce In Alaska Better For Consumers?

By Lila Barry


For long periods of the year it can be quite difficult to find good quality lettuce in Alaska. Fruits and vegetables have to travel long distances to get to the Alaskan market which can be detrimental. There are therefore a number of reasons to buy fresh hydroponic lettuce in Alaska.

The climate in Alaska can be harsh and due to the high latitude the summer is very short. Local fresh produce is only generally available from July to September. It is impossible to grow lettuce for most of the year. Hydroponic production provides the means for growing fresh lettuce year round.

Hydroponic farming describes a method of growing food in water rather than soil. Natural additives are added to the water so that the plant has the correct nutrients to grow. It was first devised hundreds of years ago but has really become popular in the last fifty years. In Israel for example, the system has been used on a large scale for around forty years and has benefited the local people in a number of ways.

There are no obvious differences between products grown hydroponically. Researchers have tested people on whether they can tell the difference between lettuce grown in the regular way, organic lettuce or hydroponic lettuce. The subjects reported that in terms of taste, texture and appearance all the lettuces were pretty much the same.

Buying hydroponic produce in Alaska has a number of advantages. Firstly, it is often cheaper than products from far away. This is because it is local and has not travelled long distances incurring high transport costs. This is also better for the environment as there is less vehicle pollution.

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.

Hydroponic farming uses fewer chemicals. The systems are basically self-contained and so the crops are exposed to fewer insects and pests and do not need much pest control. Hydroponics also do not need many chemical fertilizers. Most of the fertilizers used in regular farming do not enter the plants themselves but are carried away by the water used for irrigation. This is a major source of pollution in many countries and is causing a number of environmental problems. Whereas in hydroponic systems the plants grow in water augmented with mineral solutions rather than unnatural chemicals.

It is great news that quality hydroponic produce is available in Alaska. There are many benefits for consumers such as lower food costs and healthier products with more nutrients and fewer chemicals. Also the environment is polluted less by crops and transport. Everybody gains by buying fresh hydroponic lettuce in Alaska.




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