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.