Public Issues Food Production
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Project Report - 2008Sustainable Vegetable Production and MarketingProject Leader: Ruth Hazzard Extension Staff and Faculty:
Collaborating Faculty:
This project addressed the following UMass Extension Critical Issues:
DescriptionVegetable farming in Massachusetts and New England has remained vital in recent decades through constant and creative change: more direct marketing, diversification, selection of high value crops, and adoption of new technologies. The twenty thousand Massachusetts acres used to produce vegetables (worth over $80 million in farm-gate value and over $240 million retail value) are a resource for food, open space, environmental quality, economic vitality, and quality of life in the Commonwealth. Vegetable farmers are key players in the state's 100 plus farmers markets, 150 farmstands, 50 plus Community Supported Agriculture farms, and the wholesale food distribution system. Dairy, livestock and fruit farmers are diversifying by growing more vegetable crops. Sustainable vegetable production requires new technical solutions to problems of cropping systems and rotations, crop nutrition, soil health, water use and conservation, energy sources and needs, and pest management. As Massachusetts undergoes cultural, economic and climactic changes, both new and established growers must learn to use practices that are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable, and to adapt cropping systems to new market opportunities in Massachusetts. The Sustainable Vegetable Production and Marketing project will undertake research and extension to address key problems and opportunities facing the industry and the public
Activity SummaryThe Sustainable Vegetable Production and Marketing provides information in a variety published formats that include newsletters, field manuals and management guides that help growers implement environmentally sustainable practices and adapt to increasingly challenging economic conditions. Many of our efforts are developed as part of a regional collaboration that serves growers throughout New England and the Northeast. Significant content is available to the public on line at the New England Vegetable Management website (http://www.nevegetable.org/). Our major publications for 2008 include:
In addition to our website and publications, our team develops and delivers a variety of workshops, conferences, and educational events and provides leadership and key content for regional training efforts. These activities provide information on effective growing techniques, marketing strategies as well as professional networking opportunities. A specific focus has been on developing events for publicizing and marketing ethnic vegetable crops in target communities. In addition to large scale conferences and meetings, our team also provides more focused training, consultations and on farm demonstrations. Programs have focused on beginning farmers, assisting growers with producing and marketing new crops, and IPM training specifically for producers of sweet corn, cucurbits, peppers and other vegetable crops. Our team also collects and diagnoses vegetable disease samples from around the state with an emphasis on cucurbit crops, and provides management recommendations. Major events the team has organized or made significant contributions to in the past year include:
In addition to outreach and education, a key function for our team is conducting applied vegetable science that contributes to a disciplinary knowledge base and provides the foundation for our research-based outreach and education programs. Key research activities for the past year include:
Results SummaryResources and information for growing vegetables developed by the Sustainable Vegetable Production and Marketing team has resulted in growers adopting more environmentally sustainable practices. As a result of our efforts, growers have expanded their use of effective biological controls and learned ways to improve crop health while using fewer pesticides, or pesticides with lower environmental and health impacts. Growers have a better understanding of the principles of Integrated Pest Management and increasingly use IPM tools as part of their routine practices. Our work enhances the quality of produce, locally and regionally and helps sustain agricultural businesses while protecting the environment. Recently, our team has focused attention on helping farmers tap into new and expanding produce markets with Latino, African-American and Asian-American communities. Since 1998, over 30 new crops have been researched at UMass Amherst, on cooperating farms and in targeted markets from New England to Florida. Cooperating farmers in Massachusetts have netted over $3,000,000 in retail sales of these ethnic crops in ten years, with annual sales increasing each year. Our programs have helped growers expand production and target new consumers groups, enhancing farm revenues, diversifying products lines and bringing culturally desirable produce and herbs to local markets. Planned outcomes and observed or measured progress
Activites, delivery mode and participants reachedEducational programs for immigrant farmers Field Days and Twilight Meetings New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference 2007 New England Vegetable Management Guide 2008-2009 New England Vegetable Management Guide Website Non-chemical weed control demonstration On-farm demonstrations of new crops, or innovative production or integrated pest management practices Research experiments investigating vegetable production and pest management Vegetable Notes Newsletter Winter Educational Programs This project is a part of the Agriculture & Landscape program
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