Antioxidant, anticancer, purifying and recommended to survive viruses. From San Juan, industrialized, it is sent to the Northern Hemisphere.

Little by little it has become a top vegetable. It slowly continues its growth, in all respects. It is that every time more scientifically investigated, new benefits for human health emerge. Due to its vitamin and mineral richness, broccoli has anticancer properties, due to glucosinolates, elements that help boost the mechanism for the immune system to destroy the cells that produce the disease. In addition, it has an important combo: vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, potassium and zinc.

Continuing, it is one of the vegetables that contributes the most iron to the body. And this is key to making hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body. And to purify the body, and eliminate toxins … there is broccoli.

It is good to remember that one of the most antioxidant vegetables, which eliminate free radicals and uric acid. It reduces go bad cholesterol even by 5%. Due to its high content of vitamin C, it contributes to the immune system.

It should be noted that medical professionals recommend its consumption in developing people, since 100 grams of broccoli contains 90 mg of vitamin C, that is, twice what an orange provides. In addition, vitamin C is one of the micronutrients that humans need to survive viruses, especially in times of pandemic.

To field

After this intro, we tell you that this week Suplemento Verde was at Iceberg Agrícola, on Calle 14, east of Ruta 40, seeing different batches of this vegetable, destined for frozen, and for export. We spoke with the agronomist Germán Molina, who summarized us “in the 2020 season, we reached 45 hectares, and in the current season we had a goal of 72, but we covered 65 hectares. We are working with two materials of great genetics, one is Batavia, of the Dutch company Bejo, in 50% of the surface, and with Avenger, of the Japanese Sakata, in the other 50% of hectares “.

Accompanied by the young technician Néstor Fernández, he said that “we have numerous tests, both of different materials, such as irrigation techniques, drip tapes, also organic products or inputs, fertilizations with low conductivity, etc., always thinking about the first world , which demands these foods, organic and frozen. Mainly it is sent to the United States “.

They continued to report that they have 7 producers, and they certify with Ecocert and OIA, in their BioFinca I, Biofinca II and Iceberg Agrícola farms. They transplant the seedlings (made in a local greenhouse) from the end of February to the end of March; to reach harvest from the end of June to August. The planting frame is 1 meter between rows and 0.33 meters between plants. Everything is managed with pressurized, drip irrigation, with 1 liter / hour tapes, emitters at 0.30 meters apart and 150 microns thick.

The big difference is that Batavia has a short cycle, of about 90 days, and an intense green pellet. While Avenger is longer cycle and bigger head. It is intended that the weight of the pellet, per unit, is 0.4 to 0.6 kilograms.

Brief story

Let us remember that in December 2015 Iceberg Agrícola, inaugurated its model frozen food plant in El Médano de Oro, aiming at organic certification, growth and export. United States, European Union (England, Germany and the Netherlands), Canada and Japan, among other markets.

Frozen products have maritime logistics without time and distance limitations, a growing demand in the high-income population, global chains and serious markets.

Squash of different types, asparagus and broccoli are part of the list of vegetables.

What is used?

Alejandro Guzmán, from the Aguafértil company, accompanied us on the cold morning, on a tour of broccoli plots. The businessman responded to our query “basically we are using products authorized for organic, such as Mist that works very well for saline soils, and FOL Soil. Also, as the aphid plague is the most critical for this cruciferous, we tested with Esten 80. The Broccoli in the field is put early, so that the pellet grows quickly, one of the drawbacks is this insect and its attacks in the open air “.

He then added, in detail he said “Estén 80 is insecticide and miticide, has no withdrawal period, is not phytotoxic and is totally biodegradable. Especially recommended for Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It also controls mealybugs, thrips, white flies and others. It is used in various crops. ”

“For its part, Mist, is a soil corrector, with calcium, magnesium and sulfur, it corrects salt and sodium content. It is used in low doses. We do an analysis and take it to the laboratory, it is a sample before using it and a later one, to compare the results”.

“And we also apply the FOL Soil group, organic, complete biofertilizers, with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, amino acids, humic and fulvic acids, with high organic matter. It can be applied by fertigation or drench (soaked)” .

The entire technological management package, in terms of calendar, mechanical and manual tasks, product applications, recommendations of good agricultural practices, as well as harvesting, and post-harvest, with the addition of the processing stage for freezing food, and finally packaging, meet strict organic product certification standards.

65 hectares were completed in the 2021 season with organic broccoli for frozen.

The 90-day cycle has the earliest variety, which is the Batavia, from the Bejo company.

100 grams of broccoli contain about

90 mg of vitamin C, antiviral defense.

110 days or more of cycle, has Avenger, from Sakata, which gives a more voluminous pelt.

400 to 600 grams should weigh the broccoli pellet, to have high quality to freeze.

Source: Diario de Cuyo