Many of us have likely experienced the disappointment of finding supermarket tomatoes to be tasteless and bland. In contrast, tomatoes purchased from local farmers’ markets are often much more flavorful. Why is that? The answer lies in modern agricultural practices.
Criteria for Tomato Selection
For large supermarket chains, tomatoes are selected not for their taste but based on three other criteria:
- Transportability: Tomatoes must be easily transportable to avoid damage during transit.
- Shelf Life: They need to stay fresh for extended periods without rotting.
- Size: Uniform size is preferred for packaging and retail purposes.
These criteria have led to the selection of tomatoes best suited for transportation, such as cube-shaped varieties, which allow for more efficient stacking and reduced shipping costs. Tomatoes with other shapes—elongated, round, or oval—are harder to store and transport, making them less appealing to wholesalers. However, it’s precisely the shape and taste of these less preferred varieties that make them unique and flavorful.
The Standardization of Flavor
This standardization isn’t limited to tomatoes. Apples, for instance, have also lost much of their unique flavors due to the demands of industrial agriculture. After World War II, there were as many as 600 varieties of soft wheat in France, but today only about 20 remain. The industry has selected wheat varieties that are easier to process and free of mycotoxins, ensuring they can grow in any region. However, this homogenization has led to a significant reduction in genetic diversity.
The Benefits of Organic Farming
In contrast, organic farmers grow a wide variety of crops. This diversity is partly necessary because avoiding fungicides requires varied cultivation. If one crop is affected by a fungal outbreak, it’s less likely to spread to others. Organic farming is not only more environmentally friendly but also preserves the diversity of flavors.
The Advantages of Hand-Capsuled Dietary Supplements
The benefits of hand-capsuled dietary supplements are often less well-known to consumers. During the production of these supplements, only natural herbal extracts and other natural ingredients are used, completely avoiding unnecessary additives and excipients. Below, I’ll explain why we choose this traditional, manual method and what advantages it offers.
