Raisin production was once one of the most labor-intensive crop activities in North America, requiring between 40,000 and 50,000 workers in a typical six-week harvest to cut bunches of green grapes and lay them to dry in the sun. However, labor shortages led to the use of a new method called dried-on-the-vine, which allows for machine harvesting of the dried raisins.

Articles

Fun fact! Raisin production was once one of the most labor-intensive crop activities in North America, requiring between 40,000 and 50,000 workers in a typical six-week harvest to cut bunches of green grapes and lay them to dry in the sun. However, labor shortages led to the use of a new method called dried-on-the-vine, which allows for machine harvesting of the dried raisins. 

Raisins

For 3.2 billion people, at least 20% of their intake of animal protein is obtained from consuming fish.

Fun fact! For 3.2 billion people, at least 20% of their intake of animal protein is obtained from consuming fish.

That’s a lot of fish

Photo © iStockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages

The number of people over the age of 60 will rise to 2 billion by 2050, making up 22% of the total global population.

Fun fact! The number of people over the age of 60 will rise to 2 billion by 2050, making up 22% of the total global population.

The world is aging

Reducing salt intake to less than 5 grams per day is one of the most cost-effective measures to improve one’s health outcomes, with the potential to generate an extra year of healthy life. Cutting processed food from one’s diet is a good place start as 80% of salt in the diet comes from processed food.

Fun fact! Reducing salt intake to less than 5 grams per day is one of the most cost-effective measures to improve one’s health outcomes, with the potential to generate an extra year of healthy life. Cutting processed food from one’s diet is a good place start as 80% of salt in the diet comes from processed food.

Cheapest way to get healthy

Pulses which are dry edible seeds in the legume family such as chickpeas or lentils can improve soil fertility. This is because nitrogen-fixing bacteria in pulses transform nitrogen from the atmosphere into fixed nitrogen compounds such as ammonia which can be used by plants and imparted to the soil, reducing the need for fertilizer. When utilized in crop rotation, pulses help increase the soil microbial biomass and the fixed nitrogen will benefit subsequent crops.

Fun fact! Pulses which are dry edible seeds in the legume family such as chickpeas or lentils can improve soil fertility. This is because nitrogen-fixing bacteria in pulses transform nitrogen from the atmosphere into fixed nitrogen compounds such as ammonia which can be used by plants and imparted to the soil, reducing the need for fertilizer. When utilized in crop rotation, pulses help increase the soil microbial biomass and the fixed nitrogen will benefit subsequent crops.

Environmental benefits of pulses

 L., is a valuable winter annual or rotational cover crop in vegetable and specialty crops, such as wine grapes, because of its potential to prevent erosion, suppress weeds and soil-born pests, alleviate soil compaction, scavenge nutrients. Cultivars of the 

 species include broccoli raab, turnip, and napa cabbage. It is also used as a cultivar for canola oil.

Fun fact! Field mustard, scientifically named Brassica rapa L., is a valuable winter annual or rotational cover crop in vegetable and specialty crops, such as wine grapes, because of its potential to prevent erosion, suppress weeds and soil-born pests, alleviate soil compaction, scavenge nutrients. Cultivars of the Brassica rapa species include broccoli raab, turnip, and napa cabbage. It is also used as a cultivar for canola oil.

Field Mustard

Sorghum cultivars are being intensively studied for their potential as a biofuel source because of their high biomass yield and sugar production. The sugars produced by sorghum give it an economical advantage over starch-based crops for biofuel use. Sorghum is also drought resistant and salt tolerant, making it possible to grown on marginal land, another advantage.

Fun fact! Sorghum cultivars are being intensively studied for their potential as a biofuel source because of their high biomass yield and sugar production. The sugars produced by sorghum give it an economical advantage over starch-based crops for biofuel use. Sorghum is also drought resistant and salt tolerant, making it possible to grown on marginal land, another advantage. 

Sorghum biofuel?

Pecan shellers and farmers who shell their own pecans can sell pecan shells for use in products such as particle board and landscape mulches to add value to their crop.

Fun fact! Pecan shellers and farmers who shell their own pecans can sell pecan shells for use in products such as particle board and landscape mulches to add value to their crop. 

Waste not, want not

Cattle account for 83% of global milk production, followed by buffaloes (14%), goats (2%), sheep (1%), and camels (0.3%). 

Fun fact!Cattle account for 83% of global milk production, followed by buffaloes (14%), goats (2%), sheep (1%), and camels (0.3%).  

Global milk production

Around the globe, 1.3 million metric tons of food are lost or wasted each year. This amounts to 1/3 of all food produced for human consumption.

Fun fact! Around the globe, 1.3 million metric tons of food are lost or wasted each year. This amounts to 1/3 of all food produced for human consumption.

Fun Facts