Produce Safety Data

Food Scientists Confirm the Effectiveness of Commercial Product in Killing Bacteria in Vegetable Washwater

June 26, 2008

BOISE, Idaho-Research conducted by food science faculty at the University of Idaho and Washington State University indicate that a commercially available fruit and vegetable wash, when used in a food-manufacturing setting, can dramatically decrease the number of disease-causing organisms in produce-processing washwater. That could reduce by manyfold the potential for cross-contamination within the water by such "gram-negative" bacteria as Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7.

The product, sold commercially as FIT Fruit and Vegetable Wash, not only proved much more effective than the commonly used chlorine dioxide but is made from ingredients like citric acid and distilled grapefruit oil that are generally regarded as safe. Chlorine dioxide, whose use in food plants can put workers at risk, was compromised by soils and plant debris in the washwater and killed only 90 percent of the target organisms in the food plant and followup laboratory studies. By contrast, FIT killed 99.9999 percent, according to associate professor of food science Dong-Hyun Kang of Washington State University. "If you had a million bacteria, you would have one left.
~ Joe

Naconiche Gardens Data

Cherokee Master Gardeners received a letter today informing of a customer appreciation sale at Naconiche Gardens June 20 through July 4. They say everything in a pot is on sale except items in the propagation house.

Mammoth Sunflowers

These sunflowers have been around since 1000BC. They face the east each morning waiting for the sun to come up. They follow the light all day, ending up facing the west. They spend all night going back to the direction that the light will begin again, facing the east. If you pull the leaves from the stem, they can no longer follow the light. Some of them grow to b 25 feet tall with a flower face of 3 inches. During the years of Malaria, they were plant to kill the germs that were in the air. After Chernobyl, the Russians planted them to soak up t;he radiation form the soil and water. It was determined that they soaked up as much as 95% of the radiation. If planted in a corn field, the ants will herd up all the aphids and push them toward the sunflower. The aphids then climb on the stalk of the sunflower but are unable to kill the p;ant because the stalk is so strong. This leaves the lady bugs free to protect the other plants. Wayne and Kathie

Class to Meet June 24 at Wayne and Kathie Davis Home

The next Class meeting will be on Tuesday Morning June 24 at the Davis home in Sardis. We will begin at 10 a.m. Pant propagation will be the topic of study.Wayne and Kathie home is at 8217 FM 1857 just south of the Sardis Church. As always past class members are welcome.

Tomato Varieties

Varieties entered in the 2008 Tomato Fest Best Home Grown Tomato Contest were:

Celebrity
Pick Rite
Mt. Spring
Early Girl
Marglobe
Big Beef

Largest Tomato

How large was the largest tomato at the 2008 Tomato Fest?

Quite large.

2 pounds 9 ounces

It was the largest I recall in the last 8 years. - Joe

Potato Problems

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/em/em8948-e.pdf

Most Cherokee County gardeners report a very good Irish potato crop this year, but in the last day or two I have gotten a few questions about things like elephant hide and hollow heart.

If you would like to know more about potato disorders, insects and disease you might visit the web site above.

Joe

Salmonella and Tomatoes

http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html

On Tomato Fest week end in Jacksonville, Master Gardeners should be able to provide some of the latest info on Salmonella and tomatoes. The above link should be helpful.

I need a couple of folks at the Norman Center between 8:30 and 9 on Saturday to help set up. Others will be needed between 9 and noon. So far I have one at 8:30.

Joe

Much Needed Rain

Tuesday morning brought much needed rain to north Ponta. 1.3 inches in my gage. Was the rain wide spread?

Joe

Azalea Lace Bugs

This University of Georgia photo is an typical example of azalea lace bug damage. Each year I see two or three beautiful Cherokee County azalea plantings devastated by this insect. Master Gardeners should recognize it.
The web site below should be helpful. ~ Joe


http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg43.html

Learn About Breeding Roses

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/rose/rosebreeding/index.html

At the June meeting Agri-LIFE Extension horticulturist, Joe Daniel used the web site shown above to provide basic information on plant breeding using roses as an example. Check it out.

Name Badges Arrived the Day of Meeting

By 2 p.m. the day of the June meeting the badges were at Joe's office. Gardening teaches patience and in life we often needs them.

Sardis May 31st

For those of you who were unable to come to the annual daylily and perennial forum and sale at Wayne and Kathy Davis', you really missed out on a great time! Unfortuately, I had such a great time, I forgot to slather on the sunscreen and got burned to a crisp, but a great time was had by all. Joe discussed daylilies in general, including propagation and care, and I had the honor of discussing cottage gardening. At the end of the 'symposium', the Davis' awarded door prizes (daylilies, of course!), and then we were able to buy our favorite daylilies. May I add, that they are sold by the clump and not per fan for the low, low price range of $5-30, depending on the variety. What a steal! So, try not to miss next year's event!

While I was there, I was amazed at the size of the giant/lumber bamboo. Wayne informed us that it can get up to 60 feet in height! I was lucky enough to go home with one of the rhizomes. I took a few great pics, so I'll post them here. The first is a comparison of the very common 'golden bamboo', which is probably what most of us think of when we think 'bamboo', to the enormous giant bamboo. The second pic is my hand, used for size comparison, on one of the stalks. The third is just a really neat pic I got from the ground up. And, don't forget...bamboo is really a type of grass! -amanda

Tomato Time

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/tomatoproblemsolver/index.html

This web site will likely be helpful this time of year.

Joe

Turk's Cap Feeder?

Could this little Lepidoptera larva and its friends be feeding so ferociously?
If so, what should be done? Most of the Turk's Cap leaves are gone.

Walnut Caterpillars

FYI - Over the past couple days while on a north TX trip I received a few calls concerning a major outbreak of walnut caterpillars in DeWitt county. This insect has a tremendous appetite and if enough colonies are in a tree, they can literally strip the foliage of a tree in a few days. Walnut caterpillars feed in colonies and do not construct webs. When they molt they will molt in a group, usually on the trunk or a main scaffold limb. I have attached a picture of a small colony on a pecan branch to help you ID the insect. If anyone sees or hears about this in your county I would like to hear about it so we can determine the range of the out break.

Thank you for your assistance.

Bill

Bill Ree

Extension Program Specialist II - IPM (Pecan)

P.O. Box 2150

Bryan, TX 77806-2150

Ph: 979-845-6800