Tomato Blight

Every summer I look forward to canning tomatoes and making spaghetti sauce, but this summer my kitchen will be quiet.  The flooding rains and cool temperatures of June and July stunted tomato growth and provided Phytophthora the optimal conditions for growth. 

Phytophthora is the genus of fungus that causes late blight.  It's the same genus responsible for the Irish potato famine and sudden oak death in California.  It is not a true fungus, meaning it does not belong to the taxonomic kingdom of Fungi, but is instead a member of the Protist kingdom.  Commonly called a water mold, Phytophthoras spread by flagellated spores that swim through water.  If one wet plant is infected and it touches another wet plant, the fungus spreads, feeding on the photosynthates of its host.  Photosynthates are sugars and other chemicals that plants make through photosynthesis.  Usually, these chemicals are used for reproduction and the plant produces fruit.  But if a parasite attacks, those chemicals get sucked away, and the plant won't be able to make fruits/tomatoes.

So all this means that tomatoes (plants and fruits) have suffered in New England.  A New York Times article published in June predicted this crop failure, as did others I am sure.  And now it is late August, and local tomatoes cost an arm and a leg. 

Thankfully, tomatoes are just one crop grown in my region-the Pioneer Valley.  Kale has done wonderfully, and I have a freezer full of steamed greens for winter soups.  My own kale plants have gone above and beyond my expectations (maybe they can sense my disappointment about tomatoes), and have provided me with POUNDS of leaves. 

I am glad that the theory of farm diversification has been put into practice in my area.  The Pioneer Valley has several small farms, and many of them plant a variety of crops.  I hope the loss of the tomatoes doesn't cause too much economic stress for any farmers in my area.  I can survive without tomatoes, and I hope the farms can.