May 24文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
May 25文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
May 26文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
May 27文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
May 28文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
May 29文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
May 30文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Yesterday, the flowers on the tops of two cucumbers finally withered. By then, 10 days had passed since these two cucumbers were bought from the vegetable market.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
On May 24, Mr. Chi, a warm-hearted reader of the Evening News, made a special trip to the newspaper office, bringing with him two cucumbers with top flowers that he had bought from Chengnan Market in the urban area. “It is said that this kind of cucumber's top flower has very strong vitality. After a week, the cucumber shrivels, but the flower remains exactly the same.‘ Seeing that the reporter was somewhat skeptical, Mr. Chi continued, ’If you don't believe it, you can test it.”文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
So the reporter conducted an experiment with these two cucumbers. A week later, that is, on May 30, the reporter was surprised to find that the situation was indeed as Mr. Chi had said.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
What exactly is going on here? What kind of myth is this “cucumber with an ever-blooming top flower”? The reporter then consulted experts from the agricultural economics department, and the answer received was shocking. The reporter later learned from an Internet search that this kind of “cucumber with an ever-blooming top flower” is quite controversial.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
A文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
The top flower looked the same after being bought as it did a week later.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
One-week observation record文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
On the morning of May 24, Mr. Chi delivered these two cucumbers. At first glance, these two cucumbers were no different from other cucumbers. But upon closer inspection, these two cucumbers had protrusions on top, making the flower base appear very large. After taking photos of these two cucumbers for the record, the reporter placed them in a dark place under the office desk.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
On the morning of May 25, the reporter took out the cucumbers. The cucumber bodies had somewhat shriveled, but the top flowers were still firm. The cucumbers were photographed and recorded again.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
On May 26, the bodies of the two cucumbers had already wilted, but the top flowers showed no signs of withering or fading. That day, in addition to taking photos, the reporter also placed the two cucumbers in two separate locations, one facing the light and one away from the light.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Early on May 27, the bodies of the two cucumbers had shriveled, the top flowers were still there, and still showed no signs of fading. Moreover, the two cucumbers did not differ because of being placed in different light and shade positions. That day, the reporter again took photos for the record.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
On May 28, 29, and 30, after three consecutive days of observation, the bodies of the two cucumbers continued to shrivel, but the top flowers seemed as if they had taken an elixir of immortality, remaining exactly the same. These three days were all documented with photos.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
B文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“Cucumbers with an ever-blooming top flower” are hormone cucumbers.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Agricultural economics experts diagnose the issue.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Regarding this alternative kind of cucumber, a saying has spread widely in the streets and alleys, and it is very frightening.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“Hormones such as preservatives must have been sprayed on the flower base.” At Sanshuiwan Farmers Market in the urban area, some vegetable vendors held this view. In their opinion, spraying hormones such as preservatives on the flower base of cucumbers can extend the flowering period and improve their appearance. “Children nowadays all experience early puberty, and it is said that this is caused by eating too many hormones. Spraying hormones on cucumbers must also be bad.”文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Mr. Xu, who lives in Hedong Apartment, is a relocated resident. Having been a farmer for most of his life, based on his many years of vegetable-growing experience, he insisted, “This kind of cucumber must have been sprayed with chemicals.” Mr. Xu firmly opposed this alternative kind of cucumber: “Cucumbers sprayed with chemicals are always bad for people to eat.”文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
So what exactly has been sprayed on this alternative kind of cucumber? If people eat it, what exactly is bad about it? Many vegetable vendors and farmers interviewed by the reporter could not explain clearly.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Subsequently, the reporter brought these two “cucumbers with an ever-blooming top flower” to Zhang Yuehua, head of the Plant Protection Station of the Municipal Agricultural Economics Bureau, for diagnosis.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
After hearing the reporter's introduction and carefully examining the cucumbers, Zhang Yuehua immediately made a judgment: “These two cucumbers should have been sprayed with plant hormones.”文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
According to Zhang Yuehua, for normally naturally grown cucumbers, there will not be a raised “tumor” at the bottom of the flower base. The presence of a “tumor”-like swelling there is a typical sign of having been sprayed with plant hormones. Under Zhang Yuehua's guidance, the reporter looked carefully at the two cucumbers again and indeed found that both had raised “tumors” at the bottom of the flower base.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“Cucumber flowers are divided into male flowers and female flowers, and only female flowers can bear fruit. On the day the female flower blooms, the flower is very fresh, and by the next day it begins to wilt. By the third and fourth days, the flower gradually withers. Under normal circumstances, after a naturally grown cucumber matures, part of the flower will still remain, but it is very small and already withered. With a gentle touch of the finger, it will naturally fall off.” Zhang Yuehua analyzed that for cucumbers with top flowers and prickles, if the flower base continuously does not fall, it must be because vendors, catering to some consumer psychology, sprayed some hormone-type drugs on the flower base of mature cucumbers to extend their flowering period.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
C文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Are hormone cucumbers harmful to health?文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Focus on the core issue.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
According to Zhang Yuehua, at present, agricultural products are mainly classified intoኦርጋኒክ ምግብ, green food, and pollution-free food, 3 major categories. According to the requirements of production technical standards,ኦርጋኒክ ምግብ, green food are not allowed to add preservatives and other hormones, while pollution-free food has no explicit prohibition requirement.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
For pollution-free food, cucumbers in greenhouses, due to insufficient light, have flower bases that are not firm enough during pollination and fruit setting and are prone to falling off. At this time, spraying some plant hormones can play a “pregnancy-preserving” role. This is allowed in the production process and is very common. But generally, it can only be sprayed once in a production cycle, and there are quantity requirements.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“This kind of hormone cucumber was very likely sprayed after the cucumber matured, when the flower base was about to fade.” Zhang Yuehua said.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
So, for this kind of hormone cucumber, exactly which hormone was sprayed? Zhang Yuehua said this is very difficult to identify.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
According to the introduction, at present, in agricultural product testing, the whole country basically focuses on pesticide residues and has not focused attention on whether hormones exceed standards. At the same time, whether hormones in agricultural products exceed standards is still very difficult to detect and remains in a regulatory blind spot.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“Hormones are divided into animal hormones and plant hormones. At present, out of consideration for health and safety, we focus regulation on animal hormones, such as those in pigs and chickens. The antibiotics injected into them are used to prevent disease, but people will have adverse reactions after eating them.” According to Zhang Yuehua, out of consideration for health and safety, whether animal hormones or plant hormones, they should not be abused and must be kept within a certain standard range.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
The reporter searched the Internet for relevant information about “hormone cucumbers” and found that there were a great many related entries, involving all parts of the country. However, regarding whether eating hormone cucumbers is harmful to the human body, opinions vary and there is still no authoritative scientific conclusion.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
However, the reporter found that a saying is widely circulated on the Internet: if children eat this kind of cucumber sprayed with plant hormones over a long period, over time it will lead to early puberty; if women eat it over a long period, it may lead to infertility. According to the introduction, this plant hormone on cucumbers is called “Contraceptive No. 2.” In addition to preserving the freshness of cucumbers, it can also accelerate growth and increase yield.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
D文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Where are hormone cucumbers sold in the Jiaxing market produced?文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Reporter's investigation.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Yesterday afternoon, the reporter went to Chengnan Market in the urban area, where hormone cucumbers with “ever-blooming top flowers” were found very smoothly.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
At a stall at the entrance of the market, many cucumbers with top flowers and prickles were piled up. Many citizens buying vegetables were stopping to choose. The reporter found that this kind of cucumber with top flowers and prickles actually sold very well, even better than other cucumbers.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“How much per catty?” “Two yuan and fifty.” The stall owner said that cucumbers without flowers were two yuan per catty.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“Why are the ones with flowers more expensive?” the reporter asked.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“The ones with flowers are fresh, just picked.” The stall owner claimed that these cucumbers were purchased from the vegetable wholesale market.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“How long can these flowers stay on without falling off?” “If not watered, they will naturally fall off.” The stall owner replied.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
However, when the reporter took out from the bag those two cucumbers whose flower bases were still there and explained that they had already been observed for a week, the stall owners were also dumbfounded with disbelief, one after another, “How is this possible?”文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
The residents buying vegetables overheard the reporter's explanation and also gathered around, but soon turned away dismissively. They also believed “this is impossible.” “Cucumbers with flowers are fresh, just picked — we believe that, and it's normal for them to be a bit more expensive. But flowers that never wither — who would believe that!”文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
The reporter then went to the city's vegetable wholesale market. In the trading area, the reporter easily found this unusual type of cucumber. In front of a large truck, bags of cucumbers with flowers on top and thorns on the surface were piled up, and the vendor was promoting them: “Those with flowers are one yuan fifty per jin, those without flowers are one yuan per jin.”文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“Why are the ones with flowers more expensive?”文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
“They came from Shandong, just picked from the greenhouse,” the vendor explained to the reporter.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
According to the vendor, it takes two days to transport them from Shandong to Jiaxing. “Each time, several thousand jin are shipped, about one ton in total. The cucumbers with flowers on top and thorns on the surface at all the farmers” markets in Jiaxing are basically wholesaled from me."文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Previously, the reporter had also conducted on-site visits and investigations at farmers“ markets in Sanshuiwan, Yangliuwan, and other areas in the city, and found that this unusual type of cucumber was not available at every stall. As for the reason why the flower base never falls off, those questioned all said they did not know why. However, the unusual cucumbers with ”flowers on top that never wither" looked fresh and were highly favored by residents buying vegetables.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Yesterday, the reporter conducted an on-site investigation around the city's vegetable wholesale market and found a store selling pesticides. When the reporter said they wanted to keep cucumbers fresh, the shop owner immediately recommended a liquid pesticide called “mixianan.”文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
The reporter checked the instructions for this pesticide, which showed that as long as this pesticide is mixed with water and soaked, then sprayed on cucumbers and other vegetables, it can keep them fresh. At the store, the owner also recommended a liquid hormone called “920.” The reporter checked the instructions for this hormone, and the method of use was almost identical.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
It is currently the peak season for cucumbers and other vegetables to hit the market in large quantities. Zhang Yuehua reminded citizens that from the perspectives of naturalness, safety, and nutrition, citizens should best establish correct consumption concepts and try not to buy this kind of hormone-treated cucumber with a flower base that never withers and a “tumor” at the bottom.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/
Source: Nanhu Evening News 文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11238/