Dr. Luis Ribera, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert, has said that if Texans were to start consuming the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables, there wouldn't be enough produce to go round. Therefore, the state has started looking into how to close the potential gap.
“AgriLife’s Healthy South Texas and other health-related programs are now pushing recommendations of dietary guidelines to reduce the consumption of fats and oils, fatty meats, enriched grains in favor of whole grains, and the increase of fruits and vegetables,” said Dr. Luis Ribera.
To help meet the demand for more produce as those health programs succeed, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension have begun efforts to rejuvenate the South Texas industry with the recent dedication of their new Texas A&M Rio Grande Valley Vegetable and Education Building in Weslaco, Ribera said.
“The idea is to be competitive with both domestic and overseas producers in the production of fruits and vegetables,” he said. “While South Texas probably won’t be able to produce all the needed fruits and vegetables – the area can’t produce bananas commercially, for example – it will help close the gap.”
And it’s not just health-related programs that are driving up the demand for fruits and vegetables. Studies show that consumption is on the rise as the population increases, Ribera said.
Ribera noted that Mexican imports of fruits and vegetables have already increased dramatically recently, especially via trucks through Texas land ports of entry. More imports are also now coming in from Central and South America and other countries overseas.
To lessen dependence on other states and countries, Ribera said AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension have increased their commitment to increase production of fruits and vegetables in Texas.
Source: today.agrilife.org
