Progress Toward Increasing Intake of Dietary Nutrients from Vegetables and Fruits: The Case for a Greater Role for the Horticultural Sciences

Abstract

<jats:p>Diet is implicated globally in the cause and severity of many diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, and a large body of medical evidence indicates that consumption of healthier foods can alleviate both the incidence and severity of not only these diseases, but also obesity, which is a causal factor for many chronic diseases. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans indicated that several nutrients are underconsumed in the United States, including folate, magnesium, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamins A, C, and K. Vegetables and fruits are major sources of several of these micronutrients and minerals as well as many other phytonutrients. Despite these health benefits, vegetable and fruit intake by U.S. consumers is significantly lower than recommended by dietary guidelines (less than 40% of recommended intake) and has not risen in the past decade. Collaborations between horticultural plant breeders, production and postharvest scientists with food scientists, nutritionists, medical scientists, marketing specialists, and social scientists are needed to develop plans and take action to stimulate increased vegetable and fruit intake. Increased intake may have a positive impact not only on the health of consumers, but would also increase the economic value of horticultural commodities and raise the profile of horticultural sciences. Horticultural approaches to address this important challenge, and opportunity, must be developed.</jats:p>

Comparison of Representative and Custom Methods of Generating Core Subsets of a Carrot Germplasm Collection

“…Some breeding lines do not have the vigorous tops required by growers, so this is a trait that may benefit from incorporation of new genetic resources with tall tops. Mild, sweet flavor improves consumer appeal and marketability (Simon, 2014). Although modern fresh market carrot varieties are quite sweet and mild tasting, many historical lines suffer from harsh flavor.…”

Consumer Horticulture Advancement: Identifying Critical Research Areas and Cultivating Collaborations

“…Low vegetable consumption should alarm the horticulture industry from both a public health and an economic perspective (Simon, 2014). Horticultural crops that are rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients can decrease the potential for chronic conditions such as diabetes, some cancers, and heart disease (Simon, 2014;Steinmetz and Potter, 1996). Despite vigorous marketing, the Centers for Disease Control estimate that fewer than 10% of Americans consume the recommended daily amount of vegetables (Lee-Kwan et al, 2017).…”

“…Although nutritional content can be used to promote vegetable consumption, flavor is equally important, if not more so, to consumers (Simon, 2014). An unexpected source has sparked a resurgence in vegetable flavor research and sensory evaluation.…”

“…I lluminating the many beneficial roles of plants in human lives, diets, and environments requires interdisciplinary study in a variety of scientific fields. A large body of research addresses human-plant-nature interactions and includes contributions from medicine, public health, human nutrition, social science, and environmental psychology (Bratman et al, 2015b;Bringslimark et al, 2009;de Vries et al, 2003;Dorn et al, 2018;Goldman, 2014;Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989;Simon, 2014) as well as early work in this field by horticulturists (Lohr and Relf, 2000;Lohr et al, 1996;Relf, 1990Relf, , 1992Relf and Lohr, 2003;Shoemaker et al, 1992). Recent research has been summarized here to provide an overview of the physical, mental, and social benefits of human interaction with plants, nature, and green environments (Bowler et al, 2010;Cameron, 2014;de Vries et al, 2013;Hartig et al, 2014;Keniger et al, 2013;Lohr, 2011;Thompson, 2011; van den Berg and van den Berg, 2015).…”

Shading effects of intercropping roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) genotypes on plant development, assimilate partitioning and leaf nutrient content

“…This low and declining consumption of fruits and vegetables is not unique to Zambia but a worldwide phenomenon (Casagrande et al, 2007;Pomerleau et al, 2004). An added complication is the declining nutritional content in new crop varieties that has been observed as plant breeders attempt to improve agronomic characteristics of crops (Simon, 2014). Consumption of vegetables and fruits can be improved by introducing and popularising 'novel' commodities.…”