November 2007 Industry Update
| In This Issue Earth KindÔ RosesGO TEXAN Guide To Landscape Success
Produce News
Help Us Help You |
|
| Industry Partners: The Texas Department of Agriculture is here to support the horticulture, produce and forestry industries as they work to strengthen the future for Texas agriculture. That's why I'm pleased to offer this monthly update on hot opportunities and fresh ideas from GO TEXAN. |
|
|  Horticulture News Earth-KindÔRoses: Beauty That's Tough to Beat Earth-KindÔ is one of the most prestigious horticultural plant designations bestowed by Texas Cooperative Extension. It is based on years of extensive field research conducted by Texas A&M University horticultural experts. During this testing, no pesticides are applied to the experimental plants to assess their genetic capability to resist disease and insect problems. Only a few, very special, varieties possess the extremely high level of landscape performance coupled with the outstanding disease and insect tolerance/resistance required to receive this designation. Simply stated, Earth-KindÔ roses are the finest, most thoroughly tested roses for use in Texas landscapes. The Texas Department of Agriculture has developed Earth-KindÔ Roses: Beauty That's Tough to Beat , a brochure for industry and consumers that will be available Jan 1,2008. To order, e-mail your mailing address and quantity to grow.texan@tda.state.tx.us with "rose brochure" in the subject line. |
|
|  GO TEXAN Guide to Landscape Success
Texans are deeply rooted in the beauty of their lawns and gardens so TDA has developed the GO TEXAN Guide to Landscape Success to help! Offering tips on planning, design, plant selection, irrigation and maintenance, the guide can make your customer's corner of the earth look bright, beautiful, green and healthy. Order some today to share with your customers or visit www.gotexan.org to download this valuable brochure. To order, e-mail your mailing address and quantity to grow.texan@tda.state.tx.us with "landscape guide" in the subject line. TDA also developed a brochure called GO TEXAN Herbs: The Very Zest of Texas , which offers tips on the top five herbs of Texas and provides delicious recipes along with ideas for herb gardens. To order, e-mail your mailing address and quantity to grow.texan@tda.state.tx.us with "herb brochure" in the subject line. |
|
| Produce, Farmers Markets, Pick-Your-Own and Farm to School News Texas schools purchased $2.4 million worth of produce through the Farm-to-School Program in 2006 and will do the same during the 2007-2008 school year. New to the program menu is the addition of squash, sweet potatoes, spinach and peaches. The peaches will be provided through a pilot program in South Texas schools from San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley. If successful, peaches will be offered to schools across the state. The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) held its annual PMA Fresh Summit in Houston Oct. 12-15 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Fifteen GO TEXAN producers exhibited products to more than 10,000 participants. With the help of USDA specialty crop funds, growers from the Texas State Florist Association were able to show off their plants to retail buyers. TDA was able to bring in renowned chef Randy Evans from Brennan's of Houston to prepare a delicious flat iron steak with Texas cabbage puree and candied Texas 1015 onions and tomato relish. He also prepared a grilled Texas shrimp salad with a Rio Star grapefruit and Texas 1015 onion vinaigrette. These dishes helped showcase how fresh Texas produce can be paired with beef and shrimp. |
|
| |
|
|
|
