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November 30, 2009

Consumer Q’s

Prepared by the Office of Public Affairs

Georgia Department of Agriculture

Tommy Irvin, Commissioner

www.agr.georgia.gov



Question: What exactly is pumpkin pie spice?

Answer: Pumpkin pie spice is not one specific spice but a mixture of spices usually consisting of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Some recipes may list “pumpkin pie spice” as an ingredient and others may list spices individually to allow for more flexibility, variety and originality.



Q: Are radish leaves edible?

A: Yes. Radish seeds are sometimes mixed with seeds of mustard greens, turnip greens, rape, tendergreens and kale and sown as a “greens patch.” The greens from the patch are cooked. Radish leaves may also be eaten raw while young. They have a pleasant peppery taste and are used on salads. Older leaves on most radish varieties typically grown in Georgia tend to get a little bristly and are not suitable for eating raw. There are some varieties of radish that are grown expressly as “leaf radishes.” Most of these are available from suppliers of oriental vegetable seeds. In cuisines of the Far East, radish leaves may be eaten raw, stir-fried or cooked in other ways. Radishes may also be sown and eaten like alfalfa sprouts or bean sprouts. We have also seen recipes for radish leaf soup but have not tried any yet.



Q: What insecticide is recommended for controlling insects on firewood?

A: Firewood should NEVER be sprayed or treated with an insecticide, fungicide or any pesticide. When such wood is burned, it emits toxic chemical fumes which are hazardous. To control insects, stack your wood off the ground in an unheated shelter. Store as little firewood as possible in the house. The best solution would be to bring firewood into the house when you’re ready to actually use it.



Q: How many farms are there in Georgia?

A: According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, there are 47,846 farms in Georgia. The average size of a Georgia farm is 212 acres.



Q: How long can I store pecans?

A: When stored in a cool, dry place, unshelled pecans will keep for about six months. Plan to store shelled pecans under refrigeration unless they will be used within a few weeks. If stored in airtight containers, pecans will stay fresh for about nine months in the refrigerator and for up to two years in the freezer.



If you have questions about services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, visit our website at www.agr.georgia.gov or write to us at 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Room 227, Atlanta, GA 30334; e-mail info@agr.state.ga.us or telephone 1-800-282-5852.

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