The newest practice in farming? Putting sunscreen on crops. Why? Because sun-damaged fruits and vegetables are suitable only for making juice… and bring much lower prices.

Don’t think Coppertone, however. The sunscreen we’re talking about here (Purshade) is made up of calcium carbonate crystals. It blocks out harmful UV and infrared rays, while allowing for photosynthesis (the process plants use to convert sunlight into energy). It also helps the plants retain water as temperatures rise.

Farmers who have tested the product (in Australia, Chile, and California) are happy with the results. They report higher yields of higher-quality fruit - which translates into a big boost for their bottom line.

(Source: CNN.com)

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