Purslane, a novel self-growing vegetable for the Montana food system

Commodities

Practices

• Crop Production: food processing, intercropping, varieties and cultivars
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, on-farm/ranch research, technical assistance
• Farm Business Management: farmers' markets/farm stands
• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity
• Pest Management: cultivation, prevention
• Production Systems: agroecosystems, organic agriculture
• Sustainable Communities: food sovereignty, local and regional food systems, social networks, values-based supply chains

This project focuses on enhancing the sustainability of small and medium-sized horticultural production by integrating purslane  (Portulaca oleracea), a self-growing vegetable, into farming practices. Self-growing vegetables, unlike traditional crops, spontaneously grow in the field, often requiring little to no additional inputs. If managed appropriately, they can create environmental benefits while expanding a farm’s portfolio of marketable products, with positive implications for the local food system. Drought-resilient purslane, abundant in Montana’s horticultural systems, is an underutilized vegetable, with potential to become a “super-food” due to its elevated omega-3 fatty acids. Our team of three Montanan horticultural producers aims to enhance the marketability of purslane by quantifying the yield of selectively harvested purslane within crop fields; evaluating purslane’s phytochemical composition based on management, soil, and climate; assessing the feasibility and labor requirements of harvesting purslane within cash crops; experimenting with purslane as single crop; and evaluating consumer preferences for fresh and processed purslane products at direct marketing venues. Collaborating farmers will be assisted by a research team and a network of agricultural stakeholders, including farmer organizations and food processors. Findings will flow into a field-day, providing hands-on training for producers; a co-developed online manual; and a video series on purslane management and marketing. Community engagement and demand will be promoted through tasting opportunities at farmers markets. Educational materials will enhance higher education students' skills in utilizing self-growing vegetables. Collaborating among stakeholders, we will create the baseline for harvesting, processing, and marketing purslane, promoting sustainable practices to diversify fresh food options across Montana.

Enhance the sustainability and profitability of small and medium-sized horticultural farms by diversifying them with the selective harvesting and marketing of purslane, a self-growing, drought-resilient, and nutrient-dense vegetable, with potential to enhance local food systems and enrich diets.