Science & Agriculture

Visit GROWING MAGAZINE’s online archives to read my monthly Seed Research column, starting with the April 2009 issue.

The Science of Food Safety

(BLUEPRINTS, 10/2011)

Spinach, sprouts, peppers… E. coli, salmonella, lis- teria… In the last decade, cases of foodborne illness have crossed the nation and globe, inciting fear and confusion among consumers, and wreaking havoc on the produce industry.  High-tech solutions offer industry professionals the chance to improve handling and prevent contamination.

Click here to read “The Science of Food Safety”

Nutrient Dense Crop Production, part 1: Grassroots Agricultural Theory

(FARMING, 2/2010)

While Nutrient Dense Crop production can work in harmony with organic production, there is no correlation  between the two growing methods.  According to NDC’s proponents, the benefits of this production method  extend far beyond enhancing nutritional value of produce for consumers; NDC also makes business easier and  more profitable for farmers and store owners.


The Real Sweet Science: Apiculture & The Environmental Impact of Bees , (GROWING, 10/ 2009)

Bees pollinate one-third of  the world’s plants.  Maintaining North America’s honeybee industry for pollination of crops and native plants is paramount to the health of the agro-economy.

Acadian Understory: Researchers Work with Maine’s Indigenous  Blueberries, (GROWING MAGAZINE North edition, 10/ 2009)

Blueberry Hill, in Jonesboro, is a dedicated research facility where scientists  search for solutions to blueberry-related  problems.  The goal of the university  researchers is to develop long-term economically and environmentally    sustainable blueberry production systems.

Growing- June 09 - Olivias OrganicsOlivia’s Organics: Promoting Health with a New Business Model
(GROWING -North Edition- 6/2009)

Profits generated by Olivia’s Organics sales are funneled into the Olivia’s Organics Charitable Foundation, which supports children’s charities throughout the northeast.  The company donates enough organic greens to the Greater Boston Food Bank’s Kids Cafe program, that 1500 to 1600 kids get to eat fresh organic salad every night.


growig-cover-art-science-of-seeds-2-09 The Art & Science of Seeds
(cover story, GROWING magazine – 2/2009)

Modern horticulturalists have different expectations for crops than our ancestors and today’s breeders utilize new technologies to develop hybrids.  The use of certain technological advancements has caused some to question the ethics and healthfulness of hybridization.  Regardless of the way seed development is viewed, there is no denying its prevalence in modern agriculture.

click here to read the full article