Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- August 12, 2008

Pennsylvania fruits and vegetables get special attention in August (:43)

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Suggested Intro:

GOVERNOR RENDELL PROCLAIMED AUGUST AS "PRODUCE MONTH" TO RECOGNIZE PENNSYLVANIA'S ROLE AS A TOP PRODUCER OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. AND AN EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS NEW TECHNOLOGY COULD ENHANCE THE STATE'S POSITION IN THE MARKETPLACE. MORE FROM GARY ABDULLAH:

Story:

(:20) 20) PENNSYLVANIA RANKS IN THE TOP 10 NATIONALLY IN SEVERAL VEGETABLE VARIETIES, ADDING MORE THAN $119 MILLION TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY EACH YEAR. AND PENN STATE HORTICULTURIST MIKE ORZOLEK SAYS THAT RISING FUEL COSTS AND HI-TECH ADVANCES LIKE HIGH TUNNEL GREENHOUSES LET GROWERS STRETCH THE GROWING SEASON AND RE-DEFINE THE PRODUCE MARKET IN THE KEYSTONE STATE:

Orzolek Actuality:
(:13) "FOR INSTANCE, WE CAN PROBABLY GROW LETTUCE IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA -- AND CERTAINLY THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE -- PROBABLY TWELVE MONTHS A YEAR. SO, WE CAN BE THE SOLE SUPPLIER OF RESTAURANTS AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BRINGING IN A LOT OF LETTUCE FROM OUT OF STATE."

(:10) ORZOLEK SAYS TECHNOLOGY ALSO IS EXTENDING PENNSYLVANIA'S GROWING SEASON FOR TRADITIONAL FAVORITES LIKE TOMATOES AND CUCUMBERS, AND FOR EXOTIC SPECIALTIES LIKE GINGER AND BANANAS. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.

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Learn more:

AGRICULTURAL ALTERNATIVES: Fruit and Vegetable Marketing for Small-Scale and Part-Time Growers

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