Development of Ethnic - Specialty Vegetable Production - Marketing Resources

Development of Ethnic - Specialty Vegetable Production - Marketing Resources

Summary

Ethnic populations, soon to be one-third of the U.S. population, rely on fresh produce as staples in their diets. Local concentration of many ethnic groups has created large potential markets for Northeast growers. Increasingly, farmers are asking how to produce these new crops to meet the demand. The PI’s are compiling several years of research data on production and marketing of specialty and ethnic crops into an online resource, and along with demonstration trials, will soon be ready to provide reliable production information. Planning has begun for a professional development conference in New York City to educate extension personnel.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Performance Target 1: Seventy-five vegetable production and marketing educators in the Northeast all will subscribe to the veg-prod internet discussion group.

Performance Target 2: Of the 75 vegetable workers discussing specialty/ethnic vegetable production and marketing on the veg-prod listserv, observing initial demonstrations, and making use of the resources of this project, 20 will establish working demonstration plots of specific crops and their production strategies useful to their local clientele.

Performance Target 3: Of 75 extension, USDA and other vegetable production and marketing officials throughout the Northeast, 50 will understand, accept, and advocate the production and marketing specialty/ethnic vegetables to farmers.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Agricultural educators in the Northeast have learned about this program via news releases announcing the original grant, and several have contacted the PI’s for further information. It has not been necessary to date to publicize this project via the veg-prod email discussion group, but that option is still available for surveying needs beyond the initial contacts and expanding the project.

Despite some holdup due to sub-contract negotiations, five demonstration plots were established in NJ, NY, and MA in 2001 and grower meetings at these sites attracted over 150 growers, extension personnel and industry representatives. In addition to field work, the PI’s began conducting comprehensive literature searches on specific crops to supplement the compiled research data. A web designer has been consulted to begin the design process for the web-based production guide.

Planning began for the winter professional development conference in NYC just before the events of 9/11. At that time, the PI’s decided to postpone this event until things settled. While preliminary planning began again in December, the PI’s took the opportunity to visit the ethnic communities and produce businesses of Queens, NY at the invitation of NYC Cooperative Extension and the Queens Botanical Garden. The contacts made and observations on that trip will help redefine and focus the conference.

Collaborators: