Enhancing the Sustainability of Small Farms in Montana through Postharvest Management of Berry Crops, with Emphasis on Haskaps

Commodities

• Fruits: apples, berries (blueberries), berries (other), berries (strawberries), cherries, pears
• Vegetables: carrots, celery, cucurbits, onions, radishes (culinary), turnips

Practices

• Crop Production: postharvest treatment
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer, focus group, networking, technical assistance
• Production Systems: organic agriculture
• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, new business opportunities, partnerships, urban agriculture

During a one-year long sabbatical stay at Montana State University (MSU), Dr. Omar Franco Mora, an acknowledged postharvest management expert, will collaborate with local horticultural producers to train farmers, extension agents, MSU students, and faculty in sustainable post-harvest management for vegetables and fruits. Horticultural producers in Montana, often small-scale and organic, have succeeded in selling fresh produce directly, capitalizing on a growing demand for local and healthy produce. However, the seasonal nature of fresh sales poses a significant economic limitation. To maximize farm sustainability and profitability, postharvest practices preserving produce flavor, nutrition, shelf-life, increasing marketability, and decreasing seasonality are crucial. For example, cold-hardy berries, like haskaps, hold potential to enhance the sustainability of horticultural production in Montana, but the window to sell fresh berries is narrow. This collaborative research and education project serves to address a knowledge, training, and infrastructure gap that currently exists in the Western Region regarding effective postharvest management. Farmer-led research will assess pre- and postharvest applications of polyamines to maintain cell wall firmness, reduce water loss, and minimize chilling injury, thus enhancing fresh berry quality and shelf life. Study findings will be shared through producer meetings and MSU Extension publications, promoting sustainable post-harvest practices for Montana's food system. In addition, local producers, the research team, and Franco Mora will conduct two fruit and vegetable storage field days for 150 attendees and share insights through three online videos. Through four guest lectures and seminars, MSU faculty, and graduate and undergraduate students will benefit from Franco Mora’s expertise. Furthermore, the project team will contribute to a statewide needs assessment on collective produce storage for small-scale farmers. Project outcomes will encompass experiential training of at least 150 farmers, experts, and students, as well as online and print materials on postharvest practices tailored to the needs of local horticultural producers.

Educational and outreach objectives

• Train producers, extension agents, researchers, and students in effective postharvest management strategies for fruits and vegetables, with a focus on berry crops, to improve the utilization, quality, and shelf life of locally grown produce; and
• Identify strategies to facilitate feasible and sustainable postharvest management solutions tailored to the needs of small-scale horticultural producers in the Northwestern US.

General research objective

• Increase haskap berry postharvest management to prolong shelf-life and keep fruit nutraceutical and sensorial quality for fresh consumption and juice extraction.

Specific research objective

• Assess the impact of polyamine treatment and harvest methods on the quality and shelf-life of haskap berries.