How *long* does it take to grow high brix produce?

[Guest guest]

And is the organic movement as a whole, moving in that direction?

In our recent discussion on organic farming, soil fertility and plant

quality, it was mentioned several times that it takes *time* to improve soil

and plant quality. I responded that it doesn't take 33 years to get 2.5 brix

spinach. Our Maine organic association has been around that long and some

local certified spinach I tested (from 2 different organic farms) tested at

2.5. I did two samples from one of those farms and the other sample was 3.75

brix. 4.0 brix is poor quality spinach. I followed that up by saying I don't

know how LONG it takes to go from low brix produce to high brix, and I

realize it's a process and applaud anyone who's moving in the right

direction.

However, since then, I've learned that it can take as little as a few years.

As an example, here's a quote from a recent post to the brix talk list:

" ... now there is a real success story, eliminating pesticides completely on

700 acres of

potatoes, reducing fertilizer by 50% and irrigation water by 40% and in a

few years

tripling yields, growing almost 1500 bushels that graded at 92% USDA #1 on a

soil with a CEC of 1 and get ridiculed and intimidated because of it. He

used the refractometer as a primary tool to measure his program's successes

and

could predict when, where, and if, insects would be a problem and the level

of

concern about the possible loss. It also indicated when disease could be

present and

allow him to modify his spoon feeding foliar/soil program. "

(full message: BrixTalk/message/4511)

And from " The Non-Toxic Farming Handbook " (Wheeler & Ward), in the chapter

about refractometers:

" To bring plants from consistent low readings to consistent high readings

usually requires a ***year or two*** (emphasis mine) of intensive building

with accompanying foliar sprays. It can be done though, as demonstrated by

the experience of many farmers across the United States. Basic soil

fertilizing is the first step. Using only quality, high energy,

bio-enhancing products is the second step. Foliar spray assistance is the

third step. " (p.118)

So my question is, if organic farming as a whole is moving in the right

direction toward producing high quality food, why is it taking them decades

to do what other farmers are doing in a few years time? Not to say that it

only takes a few years in *every* situation to get high fertility soil and

high brix produce, but I think this is indicative that it certainly doesn't

require decades, not even one decade if effective methods are used. From

what Katja's said about NOFA, in that they use Reams' methods (did I

remember that correctly?) ie; his soil building program, testing methods,

using refractometers to help gauge their progress, it *sounds* like that

particular organization is moving in the right direction in a timely manner

as_long_as they are seeing results. (I still would like to know what results

they are seeing...)

But what about the organic movement in the rest of the country??

Suze Fisher

Lapdog Design, Inc.

Web Design & Development

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg

Weston A. Price Foundation Chapter Leader, Mid Coast Maine

http://www.westonaprice.org

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“The diet-heart idea (the idea that saturated fats and cholesterol cause

heart disease) is the greatest scientific deception of our times.” --

Mann, MD, former Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Vanderbilt

University, Tennessee; heart disease researcher.

The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics

<http://www.thincs.org>

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