As crops burn, farmers increasingly use sunscreen

[isilzha]

As crops burn, farmers increasingly use sunscreen

By TRACIE CONE, Associated Press WriterWed Jul 30, 3:17 AM ET

Just like people damage their skin in the sun, fruits and vegetables also can get nasty burns. That's why farmers are increasingly applying sunscreen to their crops to prevent skin blistering, heat stress and blemishes.
"With the costs of production going up, growers are looking to increase their margins wherever they can," said farmer Ed Lagrutta, an adviser for Western Farm Services who farms 20 acres and runs tests on hundreds more.
Sunspots on a Granny Smith apple can mean the difference between the lowest price for juice or the more lucrative fresh fruit market. As for nuts, last year buyers paid on average 3-cents a pound more for sunscreen-protected nuts than untreated ones, said Lagrutta.
Climate change and drought in Australia and California's Central Valley have meant challenging growing conditions for farmers that are affecting the quality, yields and price of produce. Sunscreens alleviate at least one worry for farmers, who lose money with each fruit or vegetable that develops sun damage.
"Under climate change, heat stress will become a bigger issue for plants, especially when it creates new heat-released disease," said Eric Wood, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Princeton University.


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[Pluff Mudder]

Another good reason to wash fruits and produce very well before eating.

[Chefnot]

Well I sure wish I would have wore it growing up and working in the fields. I have appointment for minor surgery next week.

[aoneil]

I hope everything goes okay for you.

That is an interesting point though...I don't think that my Mom ever put it on me growing up (I don't think)... I slather my kids with that stuff.

[Chefnot]

No it's the good cancer. My wife was a sun bather but it has caused problem for her as well. I always wear a hat now and always a long sleeve shirt. And yes we cover the kids in it. Or should say did, as they are mostly grown up now.

[isilzha]

My Grandma used to always buy some then say she didn't have room for it at her house and give it to us to make sure we'd have sunscreen.

[Chefnot]

Sounds like an old-timer! Course I don't use it either....

[aoneil]

I had to ask my Mom if she put sunscreen on us...and she said, OF COURSE I DID. :P

I have learned to use the 50 SPF.

[Food Network Fan]

They didn't make sunscreen higher than about a 4 when I was a kid. But I ran around so much I never burned. Like a rotisserie I guess.

Eating vegetable sunscreen will probably kill us too.

[ibcheft]

for me when I was a kid, my sunscreen was dirt, I usually was covered head to toe, dust from the hay or straw, and if it rained it was mud, we lived on a farm, raised hawgs so they were always covered in mud unless we were getting ready to show. Remember getting out of the bath tub did not have a shower, and going dang don't look much different than when I got in.