Over the past decade or so there has been much debate about whether open-pollinated and heirloom varieties should be the preferred choice for gardeners over hybrids. And there's been even louder discussion (arguments) over GMOs or genetically engineered plants. Why all the fuss?

We're getting a bit sciencey today. I mean, more than usual. We're discussing the difference between all these types of plants, when and how they are appropriate to use in our home gardens, and what, if any, implications genetic engineering has on our choice of food at the grocery store and the farm stand.

Let’s dig in!

References and Resources:

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Hybrid or Open Pollinated - Garden.org

https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/files/ef130.pdf

Choosing Bt Sweet Corn Varieties | University of Maryland Extension (umd.edu)

The True Story of Golden Rice, the Genetically Modified Superfood That Almost Saved Millions (foreignpolicy.com)

Transgenic Virus-Resistant Papaya: The Hawaiian 'Rainbow' was Rapidly Adopted by Farmers and is of Major Importance in Hawaii Today (apsnet.org)

Pinkglow® pineapple (pinkglowpineapple.com)

In Search of the Real Jersey Tomato (Part I) (Archived)

Rutgers 250 Tomato | Rutgers Research