Alternative Crop: Roadside Market of Mums and Fall Decoratives

Alternative Crop: Roadside Market of Mums and Fall Decoratives

Summary

Farmers are failing due to low profitability per acre for traditional, commercial crops coupled with encroaching urban development. The survival of the farming business depends on flexibility, resource management, and enterprise diversification.

Objective: To use a one-acre highway-front field to create a roadside stand to direct-market field chrysanthemums and fall ornamentals instead of growing cotton there.

The producer grew and vended maize, gourds, strawberry popcorn, popcorn on the cob, miniature pumpkins, corn stalks, cotton, and chrysanthemums. Previous profitability of the field equaled $135 per acre when it grew solely cotton.

Results: The implementation of the roadside stand increased profitability of the land to $10,000 per acre. The project was extended to gather further data.