How nutritious are the vegetables that you buy?

spoiler alert (!) not so much

Consumption of leafy greens is very popular nowadays due to their flavor, nutritive

value and health benefits. For example, lettuce, which is one of the most consumed

greens, is a rich source of active bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenols,

antioxidants, vitamins (C, A, and folate), and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus,

and calcium.

Unfortunately, much of this nutritional abundance deteriorates through the post harvest

supply chain that involves processing and handling, transport, storage, and display on

the retail shelf; All of this, even before it reaches your home refrigerator and lays there

additional 3-4 days, in avarage. The main factors that affect the quality of fresh

vegetables are physical handling, washing and disinfecting, temperature, and Relative

Humidity.

Studies have shown a significant decrease in ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll content

and carotenoids through the value chain - about 25% of the ascorbic acid content in

lettuce is lost during storage, approximately 48% is lost on the retail shelf after 2 days,

and around 81% is lost on the retail shelf a day later. Similarly, total chlorophyll is

reduced at the storage point and at the retail shelf by 38.2% and 67.3%, respectively.

Total carotenoid content is also reduced by 22.9% and 47.8% at the storage point and

the retail shelf. 

Measurements of mineral elements in leafy greens have, too, shown significant loss;

The reduction of K, P, Ca, and Mg at the retail shelf is 24%, 22%, 25%, and 14%,

respectively, and trace mineral elements such as Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and B were found to

have been reduced by 49% 34%, 50%, 79%, and 23% at the retail shelf.   

The conclusion is clear - if you wish for the vegetables that you eat to be nutritional,

grow them at home.

This is easier said than done, since most of us do not have the means and time, nor the

expertise to grow vegetables at home.

Luckily, there’s a solution – Agwa just launched AgwaGarden - a first of its kind

vegetable-growing home appliance that does all the growing for you. All you need to do

is place capsules in the device and enjoy a steady stream of chemical free, super fresh

greens, herbs and bulbs for a family of four.

The innovation in AgwaGarden, compared to contemporary home gardening kits, is that

Agwa’s AI Virtual Agronomist monitors each of the 60 plants in the device, and remotely

controls every aspect relevant to growing it. This makes the device long-term

consistent, extremely efficient and the user experience total hassle free.

AgwaGarden is already available in Israel, and is planned to be offered internationally in

2023.