Organic vegetation lab set for spring

By Laban Pelz
The Collegian

Fresno State is set to conduct an organic produce lab for the spring semester.

Class instructor James Farrar said “Plant Science 170T: Organic Vegetable Growing” will be the first organic-centered plant science class at the school in at least 20 years, if not the first ever.

“You have to go back pretty far to find another one,” Professor Farrar said.

Farrar said it has been the lack of faculty, not a lack of interest, which has kept the course from being offered before. He said only seven or eight students have registered so far, but all are welcome.

“It’s not just for plant science students,” Farrar said. Those who could benefit from the course include “anybody who wants to be a home gardener, a small-scale farmer or a large-scale conventional farmer.”

The one-unit lab, which will meet Fridays, has no prerequisites and fulfills no graduation requirements.

To be considered organic, fruits and vegetables must not be grown with the aid of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or composted sewage and cannot be genetically modified.

Farrar said the production of organic foods is gentler on the environment than that of non-organic produce, and said some people prefer organic fruits and vegetables because they lack pesticide residue.

“Whether the science is there to back that up, I’m not sure,” Farrar said of the last item. “But some consumers are concerned, so perception is reality.”

Farrar said consumer demand for organic produce is increasing, and along with it school and student interest.

He said if there is sufficient demand for the lab he would like to create a lecture.

“I’m hoping to make it fun, which is why it’s only a lab,” he said.

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