Wednesday, June 19, 2013

There Are Some Great Reasons To Buy Fresh Hydroponic Lettuce In Alaska

By Lila Barry


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.

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.

This is great for a region such as Alaska where the only supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables are shipped from other places which are sometimes thousands of miles away. When this happens the produce is often expensive as fuel costs drive up the price of transport. It also causes extra traffic and pollution on the roads.

Local produce is fresher. It can be picked at the optimum time for taste and texture. If lettuce has travelled a long way it has often degraded and the flavor is impaired. There are also more nutrients in local produce as the nutrients in vegetables start to break down as soon as they are picked. It is important that people get sufficient nutrients from food for physical and mental well-being. Studies have shown that the levels of nutrients in food have been falling for decades and could be impacting health. These vitamins and minerals are essential for healthy bodies and may fight off serious illnesses such as cancer.

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.

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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