Patiently, again and again, the farmers explain that the potatoes are in the ground, growing. So far, Scarola has purchased grapes, and he has bought 6 acres in Southold -- an example of land being kept in agricultural use -- and plans to plant vines there. Farmstand proprietors on Long Island constantly tell of people who arrive in spring, when only asparagus is locally grown, and plead for local potatoes. The center, the first of its kind on Long Island, aims to help change that, and...

In my Princeton gardening days, our vegetables took on their remarkable volume, flavor and color from seriously enriched deep soil peat moss, humus and, above all, dried cow manure from nearby Walker Gordon Dairy. It is then converted into heat to warm water which warms the floors of the 46,000-foot greenhouse or into electricity for supplemental lighting or cooling, as necessary. Ultimately, we could see waste itself powering waste pickup trucks, something that Mack Trucks is aggressively...

Fruit and vegetable growers using frost protection will have to wait until the sun comes out to find out if they were able to save any of their crops. Pecan trees in southeast Georgia that looked to be setting up for a good crop were damaged by the freeze and frost, but growers won t know to what extent until later. Frank Funderburk, an agricultural extension agent in Peach County, the heart of Georgia's peach-growing region, says fruit has shriveled and leaves are turning black. Irvin...

In the vegetable garden itself, which we share with two of our neighbours, there has been action also. Red cabbage, cauliflower, curly kale, lettuce, spring onions, rocket and broad beans, as well as herbs such as coriander, fennel, dill, parsley and thyme have all been entrusted to the soil. Gardens, virtually abandoned throughout the long winter, have suddenly become hives of activity. In the past week we have spread muck over the ground, ploughed it, and planted potatoes, again in the...

An Indian Spring BY MUKTA TRIPATHI Register Correspondent Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Editor s note: Mukta Tripathi, a Napa resident, is writing a series of articles on cooking vegetarian Indian food for the Register, based on her memories of growing up in India. An Indian Spring BY MUKTA TRIPATHI Register Correspondent Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Editor s note: Mukta Tripathi, a Napa resident, is writing a series of articles on cooking vegetarian Indian food for the Register, based on her...

His harvest also is beginning to prove his belief that the Sandusky area has ''an exceptional microclimate for cultivating unusual wine grapes. The lands that provided the foundation for Kraus' family history also are ideal for growing grapes for wine, he said. Sandusky had a better grape growing climate than those areas. The two vineyards grow 24 varieties of grapes to produce white and red wines, including chardonnay, Riesling, Gewrztraminer, sauvignon blanc, syrah, merlot, cabernet...

North central Alabama shivered through record low temperatures over the weekend that killed or endangered much of the fruit and vegetable crop in the region. Porch said on Monday that some growers may have had crop insurance that will pay at least a percentage of their loss while others may try to plant vegetables to supplement their income. The loss will likely hit growers hard, and consumers will see higher prices this summer due to low supply. Porch said most of the damage actually...

Meanwhile, to make the cauliflower puree, place the cauliflower, stock and wine in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to the boil. Roast in preheated oven, basting occasionally with pan juices, for 55 minutes or until juices run clear when a skewer is inserted into the thighs. Combine the breadcrumbs, apple, prosciutto, green shallots, thyme and garlic in a large bowl. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes or until the cauliflower is soft. Roast chicken with...

He hopes to make the campus a magnet for nutritional research that will fundamentally change the way fruits and vegetables are consumed throughout the world. State University, about 50 faculty members were told Monday that such stark differences are among the things they need to appreciate as they think about their roles in the academic-business partnership that will define the N. But NCSU will be in the unique position of working directly with growers in ways that could dramatically...