Page M6 April 18, 1990. This Week FUTURE WATCH Tastier tomatoes tempt biotechnology Drelomorrow By FRANK OGDEN round the world sci- entists are working to produce tastier to- atoes, with a lon- ger shelf-life. In an earlier column we learned of Japan’s super tomato, describing the outstanding Japanese process of growing 15,000 tomatoes — in six months, on one plant grown from one tomato seed. Inside and in the shade! The seed wasn’t even genetically altered! Through the latter part of the industrial age we all ob- served the decline of the “tas- tiness factor” tomato consum- PHYSIOFIELD FOR PAIN (J) Do you want relief from your pain? A Are you seeking an alternative to drugs? J Have you tried everything else and don’t know where to turn next? lf you answer “YES” to any of the above questions, attend PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL PHYSIOFIELD’S FREE SEMINAR to learn how electro- magnetic energy compliments the natural healing process. “ONE SENSIBLE INVESTMENT IN YOUR HEALTH WILL BENEFIT YOU MORE THAN A LIFETIME OF PAIN & DRUGS” You too, may be able to get relief from the pain of your specific ailments without the use of drugs. WHAT IS PHYSIOFIELD? PHYSIOFIELD is a medical appliance which allows revolutionary therapeutic results without any harmful side effects. KARTHRITIS BACK PAIN KINJURIES KSINUS KHEADACHES KSTRESS KSCIATICA KVARICOSE VEINS KPOOR CIRCULATION § [Emee 1 WALID CEMINADC REE 1 HOUR SEMINARS, THURS. APRIL 19 FRI. APRIL 20 ] VICTORIA SAANICH SHERWOOD PARK INN ROYAL OAK INN | 123 Gorge Road East 4680 Elk Lake Road 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. FREE PARKING BOTH LOCATIONS PHYSIOFIELD is effective for everyone, young or old, even the chronically pain- ridden. PHYSIOFIELD units are conven- ient to use at home, in the car or at the office. HOW DOES PHYSIOFIELD WORK? The cells of our bodies work on: electrical energy. PHYSIOFIELD units help restore the natural energy F balance of the body by quickly re- charging those cells that have lost their energy through degeneration, accident or natural aging. This is how the body heals itself naturally. IS PHYSIOFIELD GUARANTEED? Almost all of the people who use PHYSI- OFIELD could not get relief from their pain elsewhere. PHYSIOFIELD guaran- tees you will feel relief from your pain within 30 days or we will refund your money. FREE DRAW | Bring this form to our free seminar. After the last seminar of each week, we will award one Therafield AB Unit FREE. No purchase necessary. Next draw date April 21st. [ Name: Phone: I Address: Prov.: City: [ PREVIOUS WINNER: J. SCHMIDT, VERNON. Ss OF PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL PHYSIOFIELD LTD. aS 4479 Colchester Dr., Richmond, B.C. V7C 4R3 | [= CALL (604) 275-2296 Sa CULE OO eee el P.C.: We are a distributor of a medical appli- ance and as such, do not give ireatmenis. I A large portion of our business is referrals [ from satisfied customers. ers knew and loved to buy. Today’s relatively tasteless, juiceless and pulpy tomatoes are about to join the “sunset” crowd. Already in sight: fla- vorful new tomatoes from the past, with additional admira- ble qualities built-in. A team of scientists at Cor- nell University at Ithaca, New York have done considerable work on their new tomato. While researching a relatively unknown Brazilian tomato known as Alcobaca, they found it contains three times as many desired biochemicals as an ordinary tomato, there- by allowing it to remain firm and fresh much longer. The Brazilian attribute will ena- ble supermarkets to stock ripe tomatoes for 10 to 12 days, extending current shelf-life of from four to five days. The Alcobaca must mature to ripe- ness fully on the vine, and vine- ripened tomatoes are always tastier. Almost all market to- matoes are currently picked while still green, otherwise they would perish before reaching the grocery shelf. Farms aren’t next door anymore. Grocery stores, growers and shippers have been forced by commercial considerations to take this route until now. Tasty, long-life tomatoes will soon be back on supermarket shelves. Martha Mutschler, associate professor of plant breeding at Cornell, says they are also researching other “hidden” chemicals that may work along with the ingredient known as 1,4 butanediamine, found in the Alcobaca tomato. - What are Prof. Mutschler and colleague and plant physiolog- ist Peter Davis hoping to de- velop from this work? The “shelf-life gene.” Who knows where this will end? . We have heard of the anti- freeze gene and the “glow- light” gene that can make plants glow in the dark. Now we have the “shelf-life” gene. Every living thing has a shelf- life. Today’s developments are extending that shelf-life. Food deterioration may be- come a thing of the past. This may not be “thinking the impossible.” Right now the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Energy De- partment are combining with Canada and other countries to decipher the entire human genome or genetic blueprint. Similar work in a plant gen- ome program would tell us how some plants handle pests, drought or high heat. When we find out the plant that does it best, that has the ideal gene for that problem, that gene hopefully can be transferred to other plants giving them that desired fea- ture. Net result superior plants, superior food. More information: Martha Mutschler, Plant Breeding Professor, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853. Phone: 607/ 255-1660. olunteers Volunteer Recognition Week in Canada April 22 — 28 ==)