On Mon, 7 Jan 2008 10:52:39 +0000, Richard Johnson wrote
(in article ):

I'm a journalist, writing a piece on our disappearing fruit and veg. Britain
was once a haven of unusual and eccentric vegetable varieties - from the
Bath cos lettuce to the Worcester pearmain apple. But a recent study
revealed that 98 per cent of vegetable varieties have disappeared over the
last century - not least because of EU regulations about seed lists. Why
have all the varieties disappeared? Which ones, from the obscure to the
household names, are currently under threat? What can we do about it? What
are the consequences (e.g for our food security)? What do you experts
reckon?



You might find some of the background reading on the Heritage Seed Library of
interest:
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/hsl/index.php

--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church with conservation
churchyard:
http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk