Here’s an article I found at Kitchen Gardener’s about high yield commercial vegetable varieties that are getting bigger and less healthy.
A recent study they cite found that “the more a tomato weighs, the lower its concentration of lycopene, a natural anti-cancer chemical that makes tomatoes red. There is also less vitamin C and beta carotene, a nutrient linked to vitamin A.” Also, “higher-yield crops decrease the concentrations of cancer-fighting chemicals and anti-toxins — known as phytonutrients or phytochemicals.”
Well, I’m growing some really tiny veggies: carrots, garlic, etc. But I still would like to grow a BIG pumpkin.