Rosemount Research and Outreach Center welcome public to open house
By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 09/02/2010 9:23 AM
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ROSEMOUNT, Minn.— University of Minnesota's Rosemount Research and Outreach Center welcomed the pubic with an open house Aug. 19 so they could learn about the university's research and educational activities.
This year's theme was Agriculture for the 21st Century: Healthy Living.
The idea was to help people understand that agriculture is so much more than food production, said Forrest Izuno, head of the center. Food can be produced, but with it so can energy, human health and a healthier environment.
Vince Fritz of the Department of Horticultural Sciences based at the Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca, welcomed people to the Chemopreventive Cafe.
"You're about to embark on a delicious journey," he told them, as he handed out a list of foods with health benefits they would be sampling. Blueberries, broccoli, carrots, dark chocolate, grapes, peanuts, tomatoes and walnuts were on the menu. University research is looking into how different production methods can increase phytonutrients in these foods to help human health.
The crop with the most phytonutrients? Brussel sprouts.
Organizers were expecting a couple thousand people.They could get free corn on the cob and lemonade, watch goat milking demonstrations, talk with university researchers, tour the gardens, learn about the university's plan to build a sustainable community next to the research center at UMore Park, sit in on classes from Dakota County Master Gardeners and take a wagon ride with Goldy the Gopher to research plots. There was a tractor cab simulator, Minnesota wine tasting, live music and meats and cheese for purchase from U of M's meat and dairy stores.
Jackie Gordon of Farmington came with her mother, five-year-old daughter Julia and three-year-old son Marshall. She's driven by the research center many times and always wanted to stop by to see the gardens and what goes on there.
"It's more than I thought," she said.