The Ministry of Agriculture in Yeravan is organizing an international conference on the Armenian apricot.
New natural anti-oxidant source
The seed extract of the South American Sapindaceae berry guarana (Paullinia cupana) has been found to have high levels of anti-oxidant activity.
Eco-entrepreneurs
The Independent newspaper has a great story about people in Britain who are trying to make a buck (or rather a pound, I suppose) from nature’s bounty. There are five examples, ranging from a guy making sloe gin to another who sells a chopped up, boiled seaweed called purple laver (Porphyra umbilicalis). That’s apparently the basis of an intriguing traditional Welsh treat called laverbread. How do these products reach consumers? A separate article – this one in The Times – on country markets provides one answer.
Individual efforts bear fruit
I like to read about people who are doing their own little bit to preserve biodiversity in their backgardens. So it is good to hear that Miss Hathorn’s apple grafts have taken and are growing away nicely. Are you doing anything like this?
Blogging fruit
I’ve just come across The Fruit Blog, in which The Evil Fruit Lord discusses all things pomological (and nuts too). There’s a good set of links, and the blog has an RSS feed, which is going straight into my reader.