Brix-schmix? (please note question mark)

[Guest guest]

After my reprimand, I have read the recommended web site. I agree in

principle that we need higher nutrient density foods (especially

mineral and phytonutrients/antioxidants) and that these tends to be

smaller, heirloom varieties grown not for shelf-life and volume but

for taste. I understand that certain soil conditions and moisture,

plant stressors can alter the antioxidant content of produce (e.g.

resevetrol in drought stressed grapes and higher vit C in plants

under pest pressure and organic produce). I still don't see why you

don't measure what you're looking for. As animal nutritionists we do

nutrient analyses on all our animal feed especially forage and as

veterinarians we use refractometers all the time (the comment on

dehydration did not refer to the sample drying out but the plant or

animal hydration status at harvest- a HUGE factor in nutrient

density...when did you last water the corn and how hot has it been

since then). If Brix is the best measurement for now, so be it.

Refractometers sure are handy and I like the idea or monitoring

growing plants in the field - we send samples to the lab).

Meg