Production and Marketing of Pumpkin Seed Oil ' Related Products

2015 Annual Report for FS14-286

Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2014: $9,180.00
Projected End Date: 03/14/2017
Grant Recipient: farmer
Region: Southern
State: Georgia
Principal Investigator:
Bradley Weaver
Bradley's Farm

Production and Marketing of Pumpkin Seed Oil ' Related Products

Summary

Production and Marketing of Pumpkin Seed Oil and Related Products

Value added production is very important to small farmers. Developing new products from existing crops or from crop by products can help dramatically improve a farms bottom line. We would like to create some value added healthy pumpkin products by utilizing the seeds of our heritage pumpkins. We expect these products to find consumer acceptance and provide an additional revenue stream to farms

We believe there is a viable market for value added pumpkin seed oil products. Seed oils are increasingly being recognized for the positive impacts they have on health and vitality. Part of our launch plan is to educate the consumer regarding the benefits of pumpkin seed oil.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Our specific objectives are to:

  1. Successfully produce our own high quality pumpkin seed oil.
  2. Ensure the pumpkin seed oil meets strict purity standards in taste and appearance.
  3. Develop some products utilizing the pumpkin seed oil
  4. Develop an effective marketing campaign to raise consumer awareness and demand for pumpkin oil

    The goal of our project will be to exponentially increase our pumpkin crop each year and use the seed to make pumpkin oil and to develop brand awareness of pumpkin seed oil products. We will make pumpkin seed oil from our own pumpkins processed in a high quality control environment utilizing our own pumpkin seed press.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Initially, we will grow approximately 1,000 extra pumpkins in addition to existing surplus pumpkins not sold during the pumpkin season for the purpose of producing pumpkin oil. These pumpkins are highly disease resistant, non GMO heirloom pumpkins and are noted for their high nutrient levels.

April 2015- Plow and prepare fields for planting.  (This has been accomplished)

May 2015- Plant heirloom seeds collected in November

June/July 2015 – cultivate pumpkins, fertilize as needed

August 2015- begin first phase of harvesting pumpkins

September through November2015- continue harvesting pumpkins, collect seeds, wash and clean seeds, run seeds through press to produce pumpkin oil, purify and bottle oil for sale.

October 2015- conduct onsite farm demonstrations and sale of oil.

November 2015- Continue pumpkin oil sales, compile production records,

February 2016- Attend Georgia Organics Conference-Report Results

March 2016- Develop report

April 2016- Distribute report

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

We will hold an on-farm demonstration during the month of September to present our results to other farmers and horticulture students at Lanier Technical College. We will walk them through the process of collecting, washing, cleaning, pressing the seed to obtain the oil, purification of the oil, bottling, etc., resulting in the final product of pumpkin seed oil

In promoting the on-farm demonstration, we will be enlisting the help of Georgia Organics, Georgia Farm Bureau, Dawson County Cooperative Extension, NRCS and Lanier Technical College’s horticulture students. In addition, we plan on submitting a fact sheet of results as well as an article for publication to the Georgia Market Bulletin. We will work with Georgia Organics and the Dawson Cooperative Extension agent, Clark McAlister, and NRCS in disseminating our research results. A fact sheet/report of our research results will also be created and disseminated. We will conduct surveys after outreach events to gauge the effectiveness of our outreach efforts.

 

Collaborators:

Bradley Weaver

bradspumpkinpatch@windstream.net
Production
Bradley's Farm
25 LAWRENCE DR.
Dawsonville, GA 30534
Office Phone: 7707188282
Website: www.bradleyspumpkinpatch.com
Karen Weaver

bradspumpkinpatch@windstream.net
Marketing
Bradley's Farm
25 Lawrence Dr.
Dawsonville, GA 30534
Office Phone: 7703803636
Website: www.bradleyspumpkinpatch.com
Tony Weaver

bradspumpkinpatch@windstream.net
grower
Bradley's Farm
25 Lawrence Dr.
Dawsonville, GA 30534
Office Phone: 7703803632
Website: www.bradleyspumpkinpatch.com