Evaluating Vegetable Varieties for Winter and the Shoulder Seasons in Zone 7: Best Practices, Marketability, and Profitability

Commodities

• Vegetables: beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, greens (leafy), greens (lettuces), radishes (culinary), sweet potatoes, turnips

Practices

• Crop Production: biological inoculants, cover crops, crop improvement and selection, crop rotation, fertigation, fertilizers, greenhouses, high tunnels or hoop houses, intercropping, irrigation, low tunnels, multiple cropping, nutrient management, organic fertilizers, row covers (for season extension), season extension, shade cloth, varieties and cultivars, winter storage
• Education and Training: demonstration, farmer to farmer, networking, on-farm/ranch research, technical assistance, workshop
• Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns, business planning, community-supported agriculture, feasibility study, labor/employment, new enterprise development
• Pest Management: biological control, cultivation, integrated pest management, mulching - plastic, row covers (for pests)
• Production Systems: organic agriculture, transitioning to organic
• Soil Management: green manures, organic matter, soil analysis, soil quality/health
• Sustainable Communities: analysis of personal/family life, employment opportunities, food access and security, local and regional food systems, new business opportunities, quality of life

This project aims to help Northeast farmers grow vegetables and microgreens during the winter and spring, when income is low, by identifying which crops are most profitable and feasible. Currently, most winter vegetables are sourced from Yuma, Arizona, creating significant environmental impacts due to transportation costs and a high carbon footprint. This initiative seeks to shift cultivation to the Northeast, reducing environmental harm while providing local produce in high demand.

Farmers face challenges growing winter vegetables due to extreme temperatures, day-length requirements, and the need for specialized infrastructure, such as heated greenhouses or high tunnels. Many farms have unused propagation greenhouses that could be repurposed for winter crops like microgreens. The project will test various crops, including bagged greens, kale, carrots, celery, and Asian greens, evaluating them for profitability, optimal growing conditions, and marketability.

The project will also focus on overlooked farming communities, particularly women, by offering workshops and online resources to help farmers improve year-round income and employment. By increasing local production, the project supports both the local economy and environmental sustainability, while offering year-round employment for workers.

The research builds on previous studies about winter vegetable production, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities in the Northeast’s Zones 6/7. The goal is to help farmers extend their growing season, reduce reliance on imported vegetables, and enhance the region’s food security and sustainability.

Key objectives include determining optimal growing conditions, assessing profitability, and gauging interest from retail and wholesale markets. Findings will be shared through publications, workshops, and webinars.

Our project aims to identify which fresh vegetables are most profitable for farmers in New Jersey and the Northeast from December to May, a period when income is typically scarce. The project will:

• Determine optimal planting dates, watering schedules, fertilization requirements, pest and disease management strategies, and ideal temperatures for each crop.
• Evaluate the performance of various vegetable varieties by assessing profitability per square foot, shelf life, and marketability, to identify the best options for winter harvests.
• Calculate the profitability of each crop by tracking input costs, labor, and sales data.
• Gauge the interest of retail and wholesale buyers by measuring sales, collecting feedback from farmers' markets, and conducting surveys.
• Share findings with other vegetable farmers to help maximize winter profitability by publishing articles, leading a workshop at the NOFA NJ Winter Conference, and hosting a four-part webinar series (offered at low or no cost).