The effects of competition within alternative food networks (AFNs) remain largely unexplored. Using a study of farms that operate Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programmes in California, the state in the USA with the most CSAs, we empirically examine the effects of competition within alternative food networks. We conducted a statewide survey of CSA farmers in California, which collected data from 111 CSAs. For this analysis we construct a perceived competition index composed of variables that measure farmers' perceptions of competition with numerous market outlets and their being constrained in raising their prices due to competitive pressures. Our analysis shows that perceived competition is negatively correlated with CSA farms' profitability, farmers' satisfaction on a number of fronts, various indicators of the social embeddedness of CSA, and two community food security strategies. We conclude that competition is a real, although differential, phenomenon experienced by many CSA farmers in California, and that this competition impacts CSA in ways that undermine some of its commonly held values, especially fair farmer compensation and strong member-farmer relationships.
Hylocereus (Berger) Britton and Rose and Selenicereus (Berger) Britton and Rose are two genera of vine cacti, commonly named pitahaya, that produce fruit that are gaining in popularity as an exotic fruit in many countries. There has also been an increasing interest in these fruits because they can be grown in areas that are prone to drought and heat where other fruit production is not possible. However, there is significant taxonomic confusion regarding species within these genera as well as some uncertainty among named varieties. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to genotype a large pitahaya collection to determine if there was redundancy in some of the commonly named varieties as well as to assess the overall diversity of the collection. A total of 51 markers were scored from 230 accessions. Seven distinct clades were found with 126 putative clones but only three clades had high bootstrap (greater than 80%) support and one had moderate support (60%). Some of the differently named varieties were identical based on our analysis, but there was also genotypic diversity within putatively named varieties. The results of this study will help growers and researchers to choose genetically distinct accessions from the germplasm collection to investigate how different accessions perform in their growing regions.
Blueberry fruit were harvested at commercial maturity from variety trials and shipped overnight to UC Davis. Fruit quality was evaluated upon receipt and after 6 and 20 days of cold storage at 0.5 °C in air shelf life. Firmness, external color, soluble solids, and titratable acidity were measured. Sensory evaluations were conducted by trained tasters to rate the blueberries for crispness, mealiness, sweetness, tartness, blueberry flavor, and off-flavors at harvest and again after 21 days of storage. Many of the blueberries increased in firmness during cold storage. Firmness at harvest tended to be softer in `Santa Fe' and `Jewel' and firmer in `Star'. Sensory data also found `Sharpblue' and `Southmoon' to be more firm; however the objective measurements did not agree. Overall, `Saphire' was low in sugars and acids, and `Jewell' and `Star' were high in acids. `Misty' and `Sharpblue' were consistently high in sugars and acids. Overall objective fruit quality ratings were highest for `Misty', `Sharpblue', and `Southmoon', and lowest for `Santa Fe'. Blueberry flavor was rated highest in `Jewell', `Star', and `Sharpblue', and lowest in `Santa Fe', `Saphire', `Misty', and `Emerald'. These data indicate that blueberry flavor may be closely tied to acid content, as most of the high-flavor varieties had high acid and many of the low-flavor varieties had low acid. Over 3 years, the varieties consistently rated highest for overall objective quality were `Misty' and `Southmoon'. `Star' was rated high for overall quality in 2 years and moderate in 1. `Jewell', `Star', and `Sharpblue' were rated highest in flavor. `Santa Fe' was ranked low in flavor quality in 2 out of 3 years. Selection of variety appears to have a strong influence on the sensory quality of the blueberries marketed.
Three methods of typing herpes simplex virus were compared. A total of 111 clinical isolates obtained from patients not treated with antivirals and seven resistant mutants selected in vitro were tested by immunofluorescence assay using antibodies against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. Twenty-nine isolates were also studied by restriction endonuclease analysis. The sensitivity of isolates and resistant mutants to (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine was determined. Although a clear difference between the 50% inhibitory dose for type 1 and type 2 isolates was observed, some drug-resistant mutants might be misidentified by this method.
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