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Rhubarb - the Next Hot Craze in Cold Drinks
Remember when no one ever heard of Kiwi
fruit? What do you think of when you think of rhubarb? How much of the world
do you think has ever heard of rhubarb, let alone tasted it? It makes
fantastic pies but did you know it makes an equally fantastic juice? It can
be mixed with other fruit but is great just as rhubarb juice - better and
more refreshing than grapefruit and it is packed with vitamins and loads of
vitamin C.
I could never figure out why farmers never
cultivated this wonderful, versatile and hardy plant for commercial purposes
in a big way. Every old homestead still has rhubarb growing, even 80 years
after the homestead is gone. Every Grandma has made rhubarb pie that is
gobbled down as a seasonal delight. Other than that - it is forgotten. There
are rhubarb farms out there that provide rhubarb for pies but rhubarb is
still a relatively unexplored market.
Rhubarb is hardy even in the coldest
climates.This hardy plant actually prefers cooler climates and makes a great
cash crop where standard fruits will not grow well. It grows from a root or
crown, and once planted it comes up every year for many years. The stalks of
the rhubarb are what are used. You practically can't kill this plant, even
if you tried. Splitting a root into pieces produces more plants. Every year,
if you chose, you could split the root up and plant more plants thus
expanding your crop for the next year.
Once your crop is established on a clean
growing area, weeds are crowded out. Rhubarb may give you two possible crops
a year. It is not adversely affected by weather, disease or bugs to any
degree.
Rhubarb goes back to 2700 BC and was used for
medicinal purposes. Today it is a culinary delight. Tomorrow it will be a
funky new juice!
Rhubarb is a cash crop that guarantees
results. The market is in its infant stage but promises to be the wave of
the future for large and small farmers.
The market has many new and interesting fruit
flavors and rhubarb is on its way.
If you are looking for a new cash crop or
away to expand your income try growing Rhubarb.
 
 
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