Changes in Nutritional Values

If I could learn to link posts within this blog you might know that I have been making some efforts to find out about changes in the nutritive values of our fruits and vegetables over recent decades. I am close to giving up those efforts.

I have found that recent nutritional values of many foods have been nicely and authoritatively laid out by Susan E. Gebhardt and Robin G. Thomas in Home and Garden Bulletin Number 72 of the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA. However, they make no comparisons, with past values.

I have also learned that David Haytowitz, a Vegetable Nutrition Data Specialist for USDA might know of such comparisons, But have not been able to contact him. Many of the people on government agencies are home on vacation.

Shirley Evans King, Ed. M., R. D. of the Food and Nutrition Information Center of the Information Research Branch of the National Agricultural Library,
301-504-5225
skevans@nal.usda.gov tells me that such information might be available from Truck Crops Experimental Station (part of the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Raymond, MS).
P. O. Box 231
2024 Experimental Station Rd.
Crystal Springs, MS 39059
phone 601-892-373
fax 601-892-2056 may have pertinant information, but I have failed to follow up.

Nutrition Follow-Up

November 6, 2008Hi Richard,Your request was sent to the Food and Nutrition Information Center at the National Agricultural Library, USDA. There are two sources that may have answers regarding your question on nutritive values of truck crops over time. They are:1) David Haytowitz, Vegetables Nutrient Data Specialist for USDA. I'vecc'd him in this email.2) Truck Crops Experiment Station (part of the Central MississsippiResearch and Extension Center in Raymond,MS) P.O. Box 231 2024 Experiment Station Road Crystal Springs, MS 39059 Phone: (601) 892-3731 Fax: (601) 892-2056I hope this information is useful. Please feel free to contact me if you need further assistance.Shirley King Evans, Ed.M., R.D.Food and Nutrition Information CenterInformation Research Services BranchNational Agricultural Library10301 Baltimore Ave., Room 109Beltsville, MD 20705-2351301-504-5255skevans@nal.usda.gov_____________________________

Who Gives a Floss

Some mothers, fathers, citizens, and eaters care about the quality of our food. Some have an interest in how the nutritional value of our food has fared over the years. Some are interested in the changes in nutritional value of truck crops over the decades, especially recent decades.

As tax paying citizens we sponsor institutions that one would think would have some interest in changes in the nutritional value of our food. I haven't been able to find any. For Example:
U. S. Dept. of Agriculture;
Nutritional Data Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Service;
Fruit and Vegetable Division of the Agricultural Marketing Service;
do not tabulate the nutritional value of our food over time. Well, it does all changes to shit. Wonder who is interested in changes in shit. I remember a study of pigs .....

Even now, when deliberate genetic changes account for great changes in nutritive values of truck crops (fruit and vegetables), organizations such as: Fruit and Vegetable Chemistry Research, ARS, USDA, Pasadena, CA; Vegetable Production Research, ARS, USDA, Salinas, CA; College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, U. of Calif., Riverside; do no longitudinal studies on the nutritional value of food.

I remember having cared.