Artisanal Fruits and Vegetables

Abstract

Artisanal crop farming commonly employs organic and sustainable principles and focuses on traditional methods, heirloom cultivars, and pronounced consideration for seasonality, consumer preference, and environmentally healthy, ethical, and equitable farming. Certain requirements must be met for a fruit or vegetable to be labeled as organic, and many artisans go to the trouble of meeting them. Artisans often use natural alternatives to pesticides and herbicides and pick and harvest their crop by hand. Organically grown crops tend to contain higher levels of phenols, and some also have more ascorbic acid. Artisans may also grow heirloom varieties of crops, which existed prior to commercialization. The local and sustainable nature of artisanal fruits and vegetables adds to their desirability among many consumers.