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In Oaxaca, a State Fair That Celebrates Native Crops’ Rich Legacy

Modern Farmer

Much more than just a crop, corn has been a fundamental part of Mexican life since time immemorial, with the Mayan sacred text the Popol Vuh relating that the creator gods Tepeu and Gucumatz formed the first human beings from maíz , as corn is known in Spanish. A kaleidoscope of native corn varieties, plus colorful beans in a range of shades.

Crop 110
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How Centuries of Extractive Agriculture Helped Set the Stage for the Maui Fires

Civil Eats

Lahaina, the former capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom , was once a thriving, ecologically diverse landscape full of fish ponds and diverse crops that included sweet potatoes, kalo (taro), and ‘ulu (breadfruit). As these maps of historic sugarcane lands and pineapple lands illustrate, the two crops covered vast portions of West Maui.

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Meet the Taro Farmer Restoring an Ecosystem Through Native Hawaiian Practices

Modern Farmer

Enlisting a staff of 16 and an army of volunteers, the organization cultivates the crop in knee-deep water diverted from Heʻeia stream. Before the prevalence of large-scale, Western agriculture, “every valley that had a stream had a kalo plantation,” says Derek Kekaulike Mar, as he helps peel piles of raw taro tagged for a batch of kulolo.

Acre 125
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Beyond Farm to Table: How Chefs Can Support Climate-Friendly Food Systems

Civil Eats

The majority of the world’s cocoa is sourced from West Africa, often harvested by children on vast plantations linked to widespread deforestation. Certain farming practices and crop varieties can help farms adapt to the erratic, intensified weather patterns and disasters shaking the foundation of U.S. Take chocolate , for instance.

Food 142
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The Bourbon Industry Relies on White Oaks, Which Are in Decline. Now, They’re All In on Saving Them

Modern Farmer

Currently, he’s looking into a research forest in central Indiana with a crop of white oak. Even though Frey might not have access to acres and acres of white oaks (tree plantations are a bit sparse in Nevada), he supports the planting and research projects, andhe talks about the issues with customers and other distillers.

Ranching 140
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Coffee as we know it is in danger. Can we breed a better cup?

Agritecture Blog

It’s threatened by climate change, by a deadly fungal disease that has devastated crops, and by risky farming practices. In Latin America, which produces around 60 percent of the world’s coffee crop, this figure could be as high as 88 percent. Coffee is under attack from all sides.

Crop 52
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As the Salton Sea Shrinks, Agriculture’s Legacy Turns to Dust

Civil Eats

Date palm plantations and orchards cover the eastern Coachella Valley to the north. It’s associated with air quality, ecology, and biologicals in the lake. And the 2017 USDA census data indicate that only 5 percent of farmers practice no-till, which disturbs the land the least, and 1 percent use cover crops.