6- Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization

Echo (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) was a pleasure to visit. This past week I made the trip out to Fort Myers to learn more about what this organization had to offer. Before going to echo I did a little research to prepare  me for what I was going to experience. I will include a video that I found that summarizes the intent of ECHO and gives some great information.

I did not grow up in SW Florida, so as a result of that, I am not in touch with farming and the land down here. Because of this, I was eager to learn on the 90 minute guide through the farms. What I liked most through the guide was learning about all of the fruit plants. Of course I saw mangos and bananas, but what interested me the most was learning about the moringa. I had never heard about this fruit before and was blow away when I heard that the plant can be eaten and also be used as a water purification! What a great gift to send to other countries!

ECHO's work is definitely saving the lives of many. Their work is relevant to fighting world hunger and is also amazing how the single farm can represent so many different growing simulations. The technology the staff studies allows them to create environments of high humidity, tropics, rain forests and your normal gardening. The staff was extremely intelligent and their hard work showed through the tour.

What interested me the most out of the tour was the discussion I had with the guide about solar panels. At FGCU, we use solar panels as 85% of three of our buildings electricity. At ECHO, solar panels are  used in another way, to dry food for storage and keeping. 

Although I really enjoyed ECHO, I have no interest in volunteering there. They have many educated helpers, and although the cause is amazing, my heart goes out to helping animals and particularly endangered species!

Extra Info I researched on Solar Panel Drying:

	- Up to 50% of the fruits and vegetable rotten in the tropical countrie - During the harvest the high quantity of food can not be sold! - Drying in the direct sun has the risk of damaging the complete harvest by rainfall - By drying the farmer can have more income and for a longer time

Benefits of solar drying:

• Dried foods are tasty, nutritious, the nutritional value and flavor of food is only minimally affected by drying
• Dried foods are high in fiber and carbohydrates and low in fat, making them healthy food choices
• Vitamin A is retained during drying
• Storage space is minimal, easy-to-store
• Transportation costs are reduced; dried Products weigh only about 1/6 of the fresh food product
• The energy input is less than what is needed to freeze or can
• easy-to-prepare; solar food drying is a very simple skill
• protection of the drying products from contamination by animals or insects
• protection of rain
• Protection of pollution by dust etc.
• reduction of drying time (reduces changes through spoilage)
• longer storage of dried products (because of more complete drying)
• good product-quality
• can open new markets and income and is a good start-up technology
• You can have up to 50% more productivity in agriculture