- Author: Deborah Lewis
National Spinach Day
By: Deborah Lewis -- March 26th is another super food holiday, spinach.
For inquiring minds: Spinach is a plant native to Persia (Iran). In the 7th century it was introduced to China and introduced to Europe in the 1th century. Spinach was brought to the United States in 1806. Spinach is known in the Far East as "the Persian Green."
There are three distinct groups of spinach. Savoy has dark green, crinkly and curly leaves. The flat, smooth leafed spinach is easier to wash and clean than Savoy. Semi-savoy spinach is a hybrid also with slightly crinkled leaves.
To best enjoy spinach it should be eaten fresh as it loses nutritional values daily. Refrigeration slows the deterioration with half the nutrients lose by the 8th day after harvest. Spinach should be frozen when fresh for long term storage.
Popeye the spinach man created a 33% increase in domestic spinach consumption during the 1930s. The industry needed the boost during the depression years. California is #1 in the U.S. of the states that supply and grow spinach. California provides 3/4 of the U.S. supply of spinach edging out Arizona, New Jersey, Texas, Colorado, Maryland and Arkansas. China is the largest supplier producing 85% of spinach produced in the world. The U.S. comes in 2nd with only 3% of global production.
Spinach grows best in the spring and autumn when weather conditions are cool and moist. It grows well in sandy soils.
Spinach can be used at every meal during the day. For breakfast, add it to an omelet or saute' the spinach or add it to a breakfast sandwich with eggs, tomato, bacon. At lunch, enjoy spinach in quiche with your choice of shrimp, cheese and oregano. Add spinach to salads with strawberries or other fruit. As a snack, spinach added to a smoothie provides a quick energy boost without fat and sugar. Finally for dinner add spinach as a topping to whole wheat pasta with or without other saute'ed vegetables.
Enjoy your spinach!
Terrible News! A citrus tree in the City of Riverside has tested positive for Huanglongbing (HLB). See the post below by Cheryl A. Wilen for more information. Don't delay. Check your citrus trees regularly, and if you detect symptoms, contact the appropriate authorities identified by Dr. Wilen in her post.
Newest Detection of Citrus Greening (HLB) is in Riverside
Cheryl A. Wilen
Author: Cheryl A. Wilen
Published on: July 28, 2017
NEW FIND
A residential grapefruit tree in the city of Riverside near the Interstate 215/Highway 91 interchange has tested positive for the incurable citrus disease Huanglongbing, or HLB, which causes the citrus greening disease. This is the first case of the disease in Riverside. It has already been detected in LA and Orange Counties. It was found after several Asian citrus psyllids (or the insect that moves the bacteria from tree to tree) trapped in the area tested positive.
Brownish adult, yellow nymphs, and white wax of Asian citrus psyllids, below.
After the results came back July 25, the tree was removed the following morning. A nearby tree is also being tested and all trees within an 800-meter radius from the infected tree that are susceptible to the disease will be treated to reduce the numbers of Asian citrus psyllids.
Infected trees have mottled leaves and fruit that is misshapen the fruit stays green and has a bitter taste. There is no known treatment for the disease and trees usually die within three to five years.
Symptoms of HLB on leaves and fruit, below.
Researchers at UC Riverside and in UC ANR are working on biological controls, testing for effective insecticides, developing resistant citrus trees, and finding ways to detect infected trees earlier.
Information sheets, videos in English and Spanish, and other resources can be viewed and downloaded at: http://ucanr.edu/sites/acp/. They can help in identifying the Asian citrus psyllid and the disease symptoms and how you can help in the fight against this devastating disease.
If you see any trees that have any symptoms, contact your agriculture commissioner.
Information is also available on the state's Dept. of food and agriculture website. If you believe you may have an infected tree, call the California Department of Food and Agriculture at 800-491-1899.
UC Riverside and UC ANR are actively looking for donations to help pay for large screen houses (1 acre or more) to protect the important citrus collection.
Tags: ACP (4), Asian citrus psyllid (3), citrus (2), citrus greening (1), HLB (3), Huanglongbing (3)
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- Contributor: Karen L Fleisher
EXPLORE THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE UCR BOTANIC GARDENS WITH WILL BROEN
Herbalist and educator William Broen and the UCR Botanic Gardens present an
interactive walking tour of medicinal plants on Sunday, April 12, from 10:00-1:00. A
continental breakfast will be offered before the walk at 9:15 in the Botanic Gardens
conference room.
Walk participants can expect to learn about plant usage, both traditional and
modern; gardening tips; folklore; the way plant survival mechanisms benefit us and
much more. The walk includes some steep and rocky terrain, so sturdy and comfortable
shoes are a must.
William Broen completed a four-year program focused on medicinal plants of the
Western United States at the School of Herbal Medicine in Oakland, California. He is a
regular walk leader at Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, California, and lectures
widely on the safe and effective use of plant medicines.
The walk is limited to twenty participants. The cost is $20 for Friends of the UCR Botanic Gardens members and $30 for
non-members. Reservations may be made by calling the UCR Botanic Gardens Office at 951-784-6962 by April 6.
