• Steps To Becoming a Certified School Garden

      Robbins, Natalie; McDonald, Daniel; Rivadeneira, Paula; Parlin, Jennifer (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-10)
      School gardens provide great teaching opportunities, while also encouraging healthy lifestyle choices. With sustainable school gardens growing more popular statewide, interest in serving garden grown produce in the school cafeteria is increasing. This article will help schools navigate the system for certifying their school garden and follow Standard Operating Procedures currently recommended.
    • Resources to Improve Food Safety in Tribal Communities

      Li, Shujuan (Lucy); Cooper, Margarethe A.; Rock, Channah M.; Teegerstrom, Trent (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-06)
      Federal, state, and university resources that you may access to learn more about food safety, produce safety rules, and good agricultural practices. We also include resources that are specifically for tribal communities.
    • Keeping Food Safe at Home

      Cooper, Margarethe A.; Li, Shujuan (Lucy); Rock, Channah M. (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-06)
      We answer your questions about how to make sure the food you and your family prepare at home is safe.
    • Tasting Honey

      Lesenne, Anne (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-05)
      Most people don’t realize how many different flavors of honey exist so they probably haven’t given any thought about how to taste them and pick their favorites. Taste is how we describe what happens on our tongues and Flavor is much more about what happens in our noses.
    • Arizona Specialty Honeys

      Lesenne, Anne (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-05)
      Beekeepers in Arizona are lucky to live in a state where the growing season is long and there is something in bloom almost all year long. Many beekeepers choose to have one apiary location and harvest ‘wildflower’ honey once a year ($2.18 per pound)i. Other beekeepers choose to move their hives according to what is blooming and harvest specialty monofloral honeys ($12 to $18 per pound) from each nectar flow. With a little planning and cooperation with landowners or farmers, they can produce much more honey per hive as well as charge more per pound for their honey produced. To get truly monofloral honey the hive must be placed where there is an abundance of one floral resource, and not much else. Bees tend to focus on the type of nectar that is most abundant and easily available, so they cooperate with this type of management. Honeybees will fly up to 3 miles to find nectar and pollen, but they love efficiency, so placing them in the middle of, or at the edge of a large crop will ensure the best results. Pollination by bees can increase fruit set and quality as well as seed set by up to 70% in some crops! Best pollination occurs when there is at least one robust hive per acre.
    • Monofloral Honeys

      Lesenne, Anne (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2023-05)
      According to the National Honey Board, most of the $920 million of honey purchased last year in the U.S. was from a grocery store in a 12 oz. plastic bottle.ⅰ This honey is usually processed (not raw) Wildflower, Clover or a blend of honeys to achieve a consistent light amber color and mild flavor. Most people don’t know that there are over 300 different plants that honey can be produced from here in the United States. Since each plant is different, the nectar they produce is also different, and will produce a honey with a unique flavor profile. These honey flavors can be categorized according to the sensations they trigger in our taste buds: Sweet, Spicy, Sour, Bitter, Savory. Since taste is closely related to our sense of smell, flavors of honey will also remind us of other tastes and smells we’ve experienced.
    • Pecans Move to the West and Their Health Benefits

      Dixon-Kleibe, Ashley L.; Sherman, Joshua (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2022-03)
      Human consumption of pecans and their nutritional components that provide physical health benefits have gained more interest and increased research in recent years. The nutritional components that lend themselves to health benefit through human consumption develop within the pecan kernel and are ultimately determined by proper management of growth, development, and cultivation of the individual pecan trees. Arizona ranks 4th in the United States in total pecan yield produced, and 2nd in total yield produced per acre. This publication is one of a multi-publication series, covering an introduction of pecans to Arizona, and an overview of the nutrition the pecan provides to the human body.
    • Delicious and Nutritious: Meals for Families with Toddlers

      Wyatt, Melissa A.; Florian, Traci L. Armstrong (College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2022-01)
      Providing healthy family meals your toddler approves of may seem nearly impossible to do. Oftentimes, it seems like toddlers go through phases of not wanting to eat what is prepared for the family. Furthermore, it seems like healthy eating can take too much time to prepare. These challenges can make busy parents feel overwhelmed and desperate for a solution. This publication is intended to help parents find ways to include healthy, age-appropriate options that are a part of regular family meals.
    • Tips for Fruit and Vegetable Taste Tests in Early Care and Education Settings

      Wilson, Hope; Speirs, Katherine E.; Connell, Carly; Gallo, Isabella (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-12)
      Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that preschool-aged children (ages 3-5) should consume between 1 and 2 cups of vegetables and between 1 and 1.5 cups of fruits each day (U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services., 2020). Unfortunately, many young children do not consume the recommended amount of fruits or vegetables (Banfield et al., 2016; Ramsay et al., 2014). One way you, as an early care and education provider or teacher, can help children consume more fruits and vegetables is by providing a lot of opportunities for them to try fruits and vegetables. This will help them learn to like or love eating fruits and vegetables. Several studies suggest that this is an effective way to increase preschool children’s willingness to eat fruits and vegetables (Hodder et al., 2020; Nekitsing et al., 2018; Zeinstra et al., 2018). There are also studies that suggest that it might be necessary to offer a new fruit or vegetable as many as eight times before children.
    • Repelentes de Mosquitos y Garrapatas

      Nair, Shakunthala; Gouge, Dawn H.; Li, Shujuan; Walker, Kathleen; Andrade-Sanchez, Pedro (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-10)
      Concise information about using personal repellents for protection against common biting pests and safety tips, in an easy-to-read trifold format with pictures.
    • Personal Repellents

      Nair, Shakunthala; Gouge, Dawn H.; Li, Shujuan; Walker, Kathleen; Andrade-Sanchez, Pedro (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-10)
      Concise information about using personal repellents for protection against common biting pests and safety tips, in an easy-to-read trifold format with pictures.
    • Dental Health: Silver Diamine Fluoride FAQ

      Stuth, Christy (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-08)
      Profound disparities exist regarding access to dental care and prevention. The lack of affordable and accessible dental care has given rise to extremely poor dental health outcomes throughout the United States. Tooth decay has a negative impact on the general health of children and can have lingering consequences into adulthood.1 Prevention and arrest of dental disease is essential for health and wellness throughout the lifespan. One method to prevent tooth decay is the use of fluorides. Fluoride can be applied topically, added to municipal water or toothpaste, or swished.
    • High Elevation Cooking, Baking & Canning

      Stuth, Christy; Probst, Amanda (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-08)
      Arizonans new to cooking at high elevations often find that their tried-and-true recipes are not as dependable as they once were. There are several steps to take when cooking at high elevation and these adaptations may not be included in your recipe.
    • Household Cleaning During COVID-19

      Stuth, Christy (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-08)
      Protecting the health and safety of your household during the COVID-19 outbreak is important for individual and community health. Taking extra precautions when first coming home and while at home can reduce your likelihood of becoming sick. Extra precautions can reduce the spread of COVID-19 to other households. The COVID-19 virus can be spread though inhaling droplets or touching contaminated surfaces and subsequently touching your face.1 The included guide will show you how to reduce your exposure to the virus.
    • Tips For Eating More Fruits And Vegetables: Bell Peppers

      Wilson, Hope; Green, Weslee; Connell, Carly; Speirs, Katherine (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-06)
      The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults eat 1 ½ – 2 cups of fruits and 2 – 3 cups of vegetables a day to reduce the risk for diet-related chronic diseases. However, only 1 in 10 Americans eat the recommended amounts of fruits or vegetables.1 There are many different ways to add a variety of fruits and vegetables to your diet. This publication focuses on bell peppers and provides tips on how select, store, prepare and preserve them.
    • Growing Herbs for the Health of It!

      Parlin, Jennifer; Filer, Parker; McDonald, Daniel; Stork, Jacqui; Parker, Jada (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-06)
      Do your salivary glands kick into action when you think about a juicy hamburger or a salty snack? Do sugary treats draw you like metal to a magnet? Well then, you’re human! Our desire for fatty, salty, and sugary foods is the result of humans evolving over many millennia. Our bodies need fat, salt, and sugar to function—only we may not need as much as we are consuming. The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015) recommend cutting down on fat, added sugars, and sodium (see box 1 below). Cutting back doesn’t mean we need to take all the fun and flavor out of enjoying our favorite foods. The purpose of this publication is to describe how herbs can be used as a substitute for less healthy taste enhancers such as salt, sugar, and fat.
    • Tips For Eating More Fruits And Vegetables: Tomatoes

      Wilson, Hope; Green, Weslee; Connell, Carly; Speirs, Katherine (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-06)
      The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults eat 1 ½ – 2 cups of fruits and 2 – 3 cups of vegetables a day to reduce the risk for diet-related chronic diseases. However, only 1 in 10 Americans eat the recommended amounts of fruits or vegetables.1 There are many different ways to add a variety of fruits and vegetables to your diet. This publication focuses on tomatoes and provides tips on how select, store, prepare and preserve them.
    • Use of Personal Repellents for Protection Against Mosquitoes and Ticks

      Nair, Shakunthala; Gouge, Dawn H.; Li, Shujuan; Walker, Kathleen (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-04)
    • Corn: A Fruit, Vegetable, Grain, or All Three?

      Armstrong Florian, Traci L.; Sherman, Joshua; Wilson, Hope (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-04)
      When many people think of corn, they think of warm evenings with family and friends enjoying the delicious, crisp bits of sweet, buttery-tasting corn on the cob as part of the summer and fall bounties. Others may think of the aroma of dried corn kernels being popped for a movie night or being ground and prepared to make masa and corn tortillas. Still, others, particularly ranchers and dairy producers, may think of growing field corn as silage and as grain for feeding their livestock. All of these different activities revolve around corn, and yet corn is not categorized into one food group. Depending on the type of corn grown, when in its lifecycle it is harvested, and how corn is consumed or utilized, it can be classified either as a fruit, vegetable, or grain.
    • COVID-19 Effects on Farming Activities in Arizona and How Farmers and Ranchers Responded

      Mpanga, Isaac K.; Tronstad, Russell; Schalau, Jeff; Schuch, Ursula K.; Wilson, Hope; Stuth, Christy; Braun, Hattie (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2021-03)
      The unprecedented outbreak of the novel COVID-19 pandemic has stalled or critically stifled most of the world’s economies. The United States (US) reported a 9.8% drop in gross domestic product by the end of June. The devastating impact of the pandemic can be readily recognized by surveillance data, but these numbers fail to recognize the complexities, barriers and constraints placed on the US agricultural system, especially at the local and state levels. Farmers and ranchers that supply the nation with food and fiber may be disproportionately impacted. The intent of this survey was to understand the effects of COVID-19 on Arizona’s agricultural production operations and how farmers and ranchers responded to the crisis. This data will inform policymakers, industry, researchers, extension agents, and consumers on how to support local farmers and ranchers for a continual distribution of agricultural products and services without disruptions.