How Fresh is Fresh
Did you know that the freshest produce in the grocery store is actually in the frozen foods section? By the time you purchase those “fresh” items from the produce aisle, most of the nutrients have already been lost during shipping and storage. But that’s only half the story.
Due to the necessity of shipping and storage, mass produced fruits and vegetables are often lacking in nutrients right from the start. Most of these products have been hybridized and genetically modified to appear flawless and to withstand longer shelf lives. All of this has come at the cost of nutrients and flavor.
Grow The Best At Home
The good news is that the home gardener need not compromise. Without the necessity of extended post harvest perfection, we can choose from a larger variety of produce. Our focus can be shifted towards selecting varieties for their flavor and nutrients. This path inevitably leads towards the selection of Heirlooms. Heirloom fruits and vegetables are notorious for their unsurpassed flavor and nutritional power punch.
What’s An Heirloom?
Many will claim that heirloom varieties are developed after many years of recultivating a particular line. But to be truly classified as an heirloom, a particular cultivar must be passed along, unaltered, for at least 50 years. By some standards the lineage must be even longer.
In essence, these are the varieties that previous generations have worked to preserve. Because our ancestors selected cultivars primarily for their taste, the heirloom varieties that exist today have consistently reigned supreme for this quality.
Most heirlooms will breed true year after year. This means that by saving the seeds and replanting the following year, you’re very likely to produce the exact same qualities that were present in the first occurrence of the cultivar many decades ago.
If a cross or mutation does happen, the potential exists to create an entirely new variety, particularly if the switch adds something valuable to the original cultivar.
Why Can’t I Find Heirloom Seeds in My Seed Catalog?
Most heirloom seeds are not advertised in big seed company catalogs. The major seed companies prefer to create hybrids, which do not breed true from one year to the next. By encouraging the use of hybrid varieties, these companies are building a foundation for repeat business. But this comes at a cost.
The Dangers of Hybrids
With a lack of genetic diversity, the entire agricultural system becomes increasingly vulnerable to collapse. Several examples of massive agricultural losses have already sounded the alarms. Still the major players in the seed distribution network continue to place the future of agriculture at risk in order to reap huge financial gains. By choosing heirloom varieties over hybrids, you could help to ensure that genetic diversity remains in tact.
Where Do I Buy Heirloom Seeds?
Many smaller seed companies are now heeding the call to preserve genetic diversity. A simple online search for Heirloom seeds in Canada should reveal a good listing of them. Try to choose companies from within your hardiness zone, since their seeds would have naturally adjusted to your particular growing conditions after the first few plantings.
There are also organizations like Seeds of Diversity and Seeds of Change that have made it their mission to monitor and encourage the preservation of Canada’s agricultural heritage.
Do You Have a Favorite Heirloom?
Have you been growing heirloom vegetables? If so, which heirlooms are your favorites?
