Danish FRUIT and VEGETABLES with fewer pesticide than foreign produce - Las FRUTAS y VERDURAS danesas tienen menos pesticidas que las extranjeras

Photo from http://www.nordicfruit.dk

According to a report from the Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, non-organic fruit and vegetables in Denmark contain fewer pesticides than foreign produce and the organic varieties are completely free of pesticides. Dan Jørgensen, the food minister, saw the findings as a reason to buy Danish. “It’s great that the annual report has again highlighted that if you want to avoid chemicals and reduce your intake of pesticides, you should choose Danish fruit and vegetables – ideally organic, of course,” he said.

The food institute DTU Fødevareinstituttet compared Danish produce with imports from other EU countries and countries outside the EU to arrive at their findings. According to Jørgensen, the fact that no traces of pesticides were found on the Danish organic items is proof that organic farming in Denmark is world-class. “It’s something people notice outside the country,” he said.

“And it contributes to giving Danish food-production a good reputation and sales potential abroad.” DTU Fødevareinstituttet stated that none of the pesticides found on products in the Danish market should be of concern to consumers.

Source: http://cphpost.dk

ORGANIC sector never had a boom and never will - El segmento ORGÁNICO nunca fue un boom ni lo será

"The organic sector has never blown up, growth has always been step by step and that will continue," says Filip Fraeye, managing director of Biofresh.

 

One third of their assortment is made up of potatoes, vegetables and fruit. "Depending on the price, we bring in, on average, an annual of 16 to 20 million Euro from the fruit and vegetable sector," continues Filip. "In 2003 we started with 40 employees and a turnover of 14 million Euro. Ten years later we had 54 million Euro and 120 employees." Biofresh originally began in the 1980's with a collaboration between organic pioneers. "The second Biofresh was created by a merger of three companies. Today we offer a total organic package of fruits, vegetables, and fresh- and dried goods."

Efficient delivery system

Biofresh's main customers are small specialty shops. "We deliver 95% of the orders ourselves. The Belgian road network is very complicated, but we have developed a delivery system that enables us to deliver in a fast and flexible manner. We have used this efficient system since the beginning and that is our key to success. We also often deliver at night because it is less busy on the roads then. Of course this costs us extra, but it is worth it. In some places in the big cities like Antwerp and Brussels it is virtually impossible to deliver during the day due to traffic." Biofresh buys from importers, wholesalers, auctions and directly from growers both at home and abroad. What often happens in the organic sector is that the volume is too small to serve the market. "We always buy Belgian products first, and only after we've done that do we look at other origins."

Organic growth

According to Fraeye, there is growth in the organic sector. "In terms of cultivation in Belgium there are differences between Flanders and Wallonia. The organic growers are mainly in the southern part of the country. In Flanders you have more greenhouses than outdoor cultivation. It is a challenge to motivate growers to start growing organic. They cannot be promised that everything they grow will be sold. In addition, there is a change-over period and it is not simple. For growers to switch over it has to be a deliberate choice."

Price difference

"The difference between organic and traditional is that organic prices are higher, but more stable. And honestly, the grower takes on more costs. We try to make our prices competitive so that our customers can also do the same. In the organic sector they especially have to be able to compete with the supermarkets. Prices in the organic sector will not rise, and in the future it is likely they will be closer to traditional prices."

Image change

The organic sector's image and customers have changed throughout the years. "In the past, people thought organic meant more expensive and less tasty and hippies that looked weird, but it is different now. The products are delicious and they look nice, and trendy people buy organic too now. The 'old' image is outdated. This development has occurred naturally. Sustainability is a concept that a growing part of society is interested in, and the organic sector is part of that. It is a phase." Filip thinks a great advantage is that consumers stay faithful to their choice. "It is also because of ecological and sustainable reasons. The price is higher but the choice has already been made. That is why the organic sector will not disappear and will grow."  The organic sector could not handle big growth, according to Filip. "If half of the people switched over to organic tomorrow there would not be enough. We are realistic, but positive."

What is needed is grown

He is optimistic about the future of the organic sector. "People will continue to eat fruits and vegetables, and on top of that I see the number of vegetarians and flexitarians growing. If you are accustomed to organic products, you don't want to go back. In terms of quality and taste it is the difference between heaven and earth. The quality of organic products is phenomenal. It is authentic and pure. The organic sector does not produce as much as possible, only what is needed, and in an economically correct manner. Sustainability is a very important pillar for us as well," says Fraeye. 

Source: http://www.freshplaza.com

Unas 50 escuelas cuentan con su propia huerta para sembrar HORTALIZAS - About 50 elementary schools have their own VEGETABLE garden

"Alumnos de las escuelas técnicas agrarias actúan como tutores, en apoyo de las huertas en las escuelas primarias". 

Unas 50 escuelas cuentan con su propia huerta para sembrar hortalizas

 

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En un convenio firmado por el INTA con la Dirección General de Escuelas y el Departamento General de Irrigación de la provincia argentina de Mendoza, llevan adelante el proyecto "Huerta Orgánica en una Escuela Saludable". Se trata de una actividad que se inició primero en San Rafael con acciones en Malargüe y General Alvear durante el primer año y el segundo se extendió a toda la provincia. Ya llevan tres años realizando esta iniciativa que comenzó en el 2012, y este año continúa en su cuarto ciclo en nuestra ciudad, con más de 50 escuelas que participan creando su propia huerta para enseñar a los chicos desde contenidos matemáticos a la siembra y cosecha de hortalizas.

Uno de los  representantes del INTA que trabaja en este programa es Guillermo Guida, quien explicó: "Las actividades que se realizan se dan cuatro módulos de capacitación, cada una las hemos dividido en cuatro oasis, porque tenemos un oasis en el sur otro en la zona del centro, norte y otro en el este". A estos módulos asisten los docentes, directivos y celadores de las escuelas y son brindados por técnicos de toda la provincia.

Las capacitaciones se realizan en la agencia de extensión rural en el INTA de San Rafael . En tanto que el año pasado, el cierre del encuentro de socialización de resultados, se realizó en noviembre en el Polideportivo Nº2. "En el programa tenemos trabajando cuatro técnicos en San Rafael, hay dos en Malargüe y tres en General Alvear. Hay escuelas sanrafaelinas de zona urbana y zona rural, algunas de distritos como Punta de Agua, El Sosneado, El Nihuil, de todo el departamento".  

Hay que destacar  que este año participan unas 50 escuelas locales que buscan trabajar su propia experiencia con la tierra. "Las escuelas técnicas agrarias actúan como tutores, y en apoyo de las huertas en las escuelas primarias, acompañando la labor del técnico, que hace el acompañamiento de la actividad en cada parcela". 

Por otro lado, asegura que tratan de que los chicos trabajen la huerta otoño- invierno, porque de esa manera siembran cuando empieza la clase y cuando está por terminar el ciclo lectivo pueden cosechar el resultado. Además, explicó que "La idea  de este programa es que lo continúe cada institución y algunas que se van sumando. Las huertas son muy variadas, la idea no es que sean demasiado grandes porque muchas veces no hay tanto terreno, pero aún no habiéndolo se han hecho en los mismos patios embaldosados de las escuelas,  trabajando en cajones, con mangas verticales, cubiertas o en pequeños canteros".

En cuanto a las semillas que se siembran , se trata fundamentalmente de hortalizas y verduras de hoja: como acelga, espinaca, lechuga. También se planta cebolla, ajo, arvejas, todo lo que es verdura de estación otoño- invierno. 

La idea es que en este espacio  no solo se transmitan conocimientos agrícolas, sino que el docente utilice la experiencia como un aula a cielo abierto. Educan a los chicos sobre  el respeto y cuidado de los factores de producción, del suelo y el uso racional del agua. "Podés enseñarle matemática, medir dimensiones, realizar cuentas ,  superficies, aprender geometrías. Se pretende que se utilice no sólo para ver cómo se siembra la hortaliza sino para transmitir otros conocimientos", concluyó Guida. 

Fuente: http://www.diariosanrafael.com.ar