We Need Fresh Fruit And Veggies?

[snorkler]

Why with the health problems of the Bahamian people, Diabetes and being over weight, is there not a push for the import of fresh Florida fruit and vegtables. I think the grocery stores do a wonderful job. I am under the assumption the government won't allow you to bring on your person or ship and import fruits and veggies. The other Islands in the Carabean have and serve lots of fruits and veggies. Fresh fruits are a real treat to northern climate people in the winter. Why does customs stop Veggies from US?

[syd]

when produce is imported, the deptartment of agriculture requires the correct certification that the products are safe for import.
In florida for example you cannot take oranges on a plane to new york.
syd

[R]

The import, and export of fruit is restricted in an effort to control the spread of insects, and disease.
You can not take fruit into most areas in the states that have large fruit orchards for the same reasons.
You can find wonderful fresh fruit and veggies in the Abacos, if you look around.
Many in the Abacos grow fruit, and "the farm" grows a variety of veggies.

Regards...R

[rumrunner]

Most of the locally grown produce will be available in Jan. Right now most of the farms are at the seedling stage. A freind of mine has a farm and I will find out what he will have available this season and post it on the board. I know for sure that he will have cabbage, tomatoes and green pepper, along with some fresh herbs.

[Island Notes]

Probably the same reason why a person cannot take Bahamian fruit and vegtables to Florida ? The fear of spreading bugs and fungus etc.. ?

As I understand it, it is even illegal to pick an orange off your backyard tree in Florida and drive it 200 miles across the State to give to your sick grandmother. Is that true ?

I cannot see why anyone would complain about a lack of fruit and vegtables in Abaco these days. Twentyyears ago I agree it was a problem.
I was in Solomons today and the there was a huge selection. You could not ask for more.





Why with the health problems of the Bahamian people, Diabetes and being over weight, is there not a push for the import of fresh Florida fruit and vegtables. I think the grocery stores do a wonderful job. I am under the assumption the government won't allow you to bring on your person or ship and import fruits and veggies. The other Islands in the Carabean have and serve lots of fruits and veggies. Fresh fruits are a real treat to northern climate people in the winter. Why does customs stop Veggies from US?

[beenawhile]

In the late '80's there was a tomato farm south of Marsh Harbour that produced for export and in the evening the american workers would load the back of their pickup with the ones that were too ripe to ship. They'd park across from the original Tiki Hut and everyone would simply take what they needed. They were so sweet you just ate them like you would an apple. The best I've ever eaten. Must have to do with the limestone on the island. The local grapefruit and oranges are also excellent and very sweet.

[Island Notes]

Sorry, I had to do some research on the veracity of your statement "health problems of the Bahamian people".

Sorry but according to the Pan American Health Organization there is very little difference in terms of chronic diseases of the general population between the US and The Bahamas. Where there are differences in mortality and morbidity, it can probably be justified by the chance of earlier detection and treatment in the United States.

The key to analysing this data however is that only 12% of the US population are of African decent, in the Bahamas the figure is 85%. It makes a huge difference, especially with cardiovascular disease.






Why with the health problems of the Bahamian people, Diabetes and being over weight, [/QUOTE]

[snorkler]

I clipped my info about the health of Bahamians from a Bahamian news web site. Personally I dont see alot of obesity in the Abaco's. I do think to refuse people to carry fruit and veggies for fear of bugs or fungus from Florida is silly. The eco-systems are so close I imagine they contaminate each other daily hundreds of different ways. Solomons is great but it does not trickle down to the cays much. I must also say I love Abaco and the friendly polite people.

"The problem is that the physicians and the Ministry of Health were telling us all during the past week that it just isn’t right to be fat. http://www.bahamasuncensored.com/bethel_marcus_healthtest.gifThey announced that 65 per cent of the Bahamian population is overweight and that we are paying a price for it with diabetes, hypertension and the resultant kidney disease, strokes, heart attacks and cancer.
There was a high profile picture of the Minister of Health Marcus Bethel getting his finger pricked to test the blood sugar. The question that one asks: is this stuff really affecting the Bahamian population in a mass level so that it begins to have some affect on the population? You can judge this by what is happening in the popular, mass restaurants.
There has been no change in the average fare: still lots of rice and peas, macaroni, potato salad. No one eats greens or salads and very little fruit is consumed. So the average diet in The Bahamas is filled with lots of fat, lots of carbohydrates, lots of sugars. There is very little fibre and very little of the unprocessed grains."

[Abacoparrott]

Snorkeler, I think what Island Notes is saying was that there might be a health problem but no more, as a percentage, than the African-American population in the US........correct me if I am wrong 'Notes......ken

[Island Notes]

Ken, that is exactly what I was getting at.



Snorkeler, I think what Island Notes is saying was that there might be a health problem but no more, as a percentage, than the African-American population in the US........correct me if I am wrong 'Notes......ken