It all begins with the dirt. Whether you are growing apples or zinnias, the quality of your crop depends on the quality of the soil. Unfortunately, technological advances, along with consumer demand, have negatively impacted our dirt.

 Following World War II, widespread use of chemical fertilizers began, gradually supplanting organic fertilizer. The chemicals killed naturally occurring nutrients.

Combine that with harvesting food before it is completely ripe; poor or nonexistent crop rotation; pesticides, herbicide residue; chemical additives; preservatives; storage; distribution; transportation; and finally cooking, and the result is a weakened micronutrient content of our food by the time it reaches our mouths.

Data compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicate that at least 40 percent of Americans routinely consume a diet containing only 60 percent of the recommended amounts of 10 selected nutrients. To remedy this deficiency, first step up your consumption of fruits and eat a great deal more raw vegetables. Make your own fresh juices. Fifty years ago it was that simple, but today, with our dirt situation, food supply and lifestyles we need the second component.

The fact that our food is also about 10 times less nutritious than it was 100 years ago makes taking a good whole food multivitamin something to seriously consider. Whole food multivitamins are not the same as synthetic vitamins from any of the major vitamin manufacturers. Read those labels carefully!

Terri Jesmonth is a certified Florida master gardener and writer for the Gulf Breeze Apothecary that is located at 1177 Gulf Breeze Parkway. GulfBreezeApothecary.com. Call 850-677-9340.