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Green-seeds.com:
publications & research: articles
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A Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Marketing Technique |
Large or small growers will benefit if they can establish their product
identity. When a customer finds a quality product and can identify
that product, customer loyalty is promoted and should result in repeat
business. One simple marketing technique is applying labels or stickers
to the product. This serves not only to identify the product as yours,
but also other information. As an example, your tomatoes could be
labeled as vine ripened, hydroponic, greenhouse-grown, or organic
grown. The cost per sticker is low and should not be a barrier. A
round 3/4 inch diameter label with about 3,000 per roll when purchasing
10 rolls cost about $70. Math tells us this is about 0.23 cents per
sticker or 4-5 stickers for a penny. Larger labels, or special colors
or shapes will cost more, but their value in identifying your product
should be well worth the cost.
An
additional benefit of using a sticker identifying the product is to
also use PLU (product look-up) numbers. The PLU number helps grocers
by being sure the correct price is charged for each type of produce.
Some of the most likely PLU numbers greenhouse vegetable growers might
need are in Table 1.
| Table 1. PLU numbers for greenhouse vegetables.
|
TOMATOES
Greenhouse / Hydroponic tomatoes
4798 Small (6 x 6 or smaller)
4799 Large (5 x 6 or larger)
|
GREENHOUSE OR OTHER TOMATOES:
4664 Cluster (TOV)
4796 Cherry
4800 Native / Home grown
4805 Vine ripe
4806-8 Retailer assigned
9xxxx Organic
|
CUCUMBERS
4593 English / hot house / long seedless
|
LETTUCE
4633 Hydroponic
|
PEPPERS
4688 Greenhouse Red
4689 Greenhouse Yellow
3119 Greenhouse Green (med & sml)
3120 Greenhouse Green (large)
3121 Greenhouse Orange
3122 Greenhouse White
3123 Greenhouse Brown
3124 Greenhouse Purple
|
(White, Vegetarian 99-06)
Plastics Value Recovery 
Vegetable
producers have been searching for ways to avoid the high cost and
inconvenience of disposing of the vast amount of agricultural plastic
generated in each growing season. This is primarily made up of plastic
mulch and drip tubing, although in other areas of agriculture it can
include silage and hay bale coverings, irrigation piping and even
the polypropylene strings used to tie bales. The total amount of plastic
used can be reduced by producing several crops on the same mulch.
However, this requires the use of drip tape for fertigation and is
best suited to crops that cover the mulch fairly quickly to reduce
deterioration. The remaining mulch and drip tape must still be disposed
of after the final season. Much research has been done to develop
biodegradable plastic mulches but problems with variability in rate
of deterioration have limited their use in large scale horticultural
production.
A
round table discussion on plastics value recovery was held at the
28th National Agricultural Plastics Congress held in Tallahassee,
FL May 19-22, 1999. James Garthe of Pennsylvania State University
organized the round table and participants were Keith Williamson of
Sonoco; Steve Clarke of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural
Affairs; and Arthur Amidon of Amidon Recycling.
Most
agricultural plastics are now burned on-farm or landfills. Landfills
are starting to restrict access to mulch film and drip tape because
they tangle the machinery. Compaction of plastic by baling makes it
acceptable for landfills. Also, if the plastic is placed in a separate
area of the landfill, it can be "mined" for future use in incineration
and, possibly, recycling. A pilot program to make baling equipment
available in Florida has been started.
The
primary methods of recovering the value of plastics that were discussed
were incineration for power generation and recycling of plastic into
plastic lumber or other recycled products. Both uses require that
facilities are available and that a market exists for the product.
Also, the amount of dirt and debris that are mixed in with the plastic
is an issue of particular importance for using plastic mulch. The
possibility that biodegradable plastic would be mixed into the other
mulch material was of concern for recycling because of the additives
making the plastic biodegradable.
Other
types of plastic are routinely recycled and recycled plastic products,
such as lumber and fiber for clothing, are easily available. A plastics
recycling company is currently looking into using agricultural plastics
from Florida producers as a large and fairly concentrated source of
plastic to recycle. If the recycling and baling programs both succeed,
the amount of agricultural plastic ending up in Florida landfills
may be drastically reduced.
(Lamb, Vegetarian 99-06)
Pumpkin Variety Trial, Fall 1998
Decorative
or carving type pumpkins are a relatively minor crop in Florida but
in recent years interest for direct sale and local shipment has increased
because of high markets. Spring production in Florida is not desirable
due to the lengthy and expensive storage time to keep them until the
fall marketing season. Optimum planting time would be from late June
to mid July and will mature in late September to early October. Because
of the high temperatures and long days during the early part of the
growing season fruit will mature in as little as 70 days from seeding.
They can be grown both as a main crop or as a double crop behind a
spring crop.
The
objective of this trial was to evaluate the performance of decorative
or carving type pumpkin varieties under north Florida conditions.
Production
was on white on black polyethylene mulched beds. Prior to applying
mulch beds were fumigated with 400 lbs/a of 98:2 methyl bromide. Total
fertilization was 146-45-146 lbs/a of N-P2O5-K2O.
Irrigation was with a single tube placed 6 inches from the center
of the bed and 1 inch deep. Between row spacing was 8 feet and in-row
spacing was 40 inches. Twelve entries were direct - seeded on 6 August
1998. Design was a random complete block with 4 replications. Registered
pesticides were applied on a weekly basis to control insect and diseases.
First
harvest was made 68 days after seeding on 13 October 1998. At least
4 fruit from each plot were rated for rind color and height and diameter
were recorded. Only marketable fruit were weighed and data recorded.
Total
yields ranged from 247 cwt/a for 'Aspen' to 98 cwt/a for 'Gold Rush'
(Table 2). 'Magic', 'Howden', 'Appalachian', 'Jumpin' Jack' and 'Connecticut
Field' produced similar yields to 'Aspen'. The highest yielding entries
also produced the most fruit/a. The largest fruit was produced by
'Gold Rush' at 16.2 lbs and was significantly higher than all other
entries. Smallest fruit was produced by 'Wizard' at 8.5 lbs. The tallest
fruit was produced by 'Jumpin' Jack' with a height/width ratio of
1.13 but was not different from 7 other entries. Fruit of 'Long Face'
had the deepest orange color but were not different from 8 other entries.
The top 4 entries, 'Aspen', 'Magic', 'Howden' and 'Appalachian' all
produced good yields, had fruit of good deep orange color and height/width
ratios of nearly 1 and should be considered for commercial trial in
North Florida. Of these 'Howden is open-pollinated and the rest are
hybrids.
PUMPKIN- DECORATIVE VARIETY TRIAL RESULTS-QUINCY
Unit Reporting: North Florida Research and Education Center
Leaders: S. M. Olson and J. M. Snell
Planted: August 6, 1998
Harvested: October 13-19, 1998
Soil: Orangeburg loamy fine sand
| Table 2. Total yields. |
Entry
|
Source
|
Color
Ratingz
|
Shapey
|
Average
Fruit Wt
(lb)
|
Fruit Yield
|
(no./A)
|
(cwt/A)
|
Aspen
|
Siegers
|
4.0 a-cx
|
1.04 a-
|
12.9 b-d
|
1920 a
|
247 a
|
Magic
|
Seneca
|
4.5 ab
|
0.95 c
|
11.3 c-f
|
1920 a
|
216 ab
|
Howden
|
Siegers
|
4.0 a-c
|
0.98 bc
|
12.6 b-e
|
1552 ab
|
198 ab
|
Appalachian
|
Petoseed
|
4.2 a-c
|
1.05 a-
|
11.2 c-f
|
1552 ab
|
176 a-
|
Jumpin' Jack
|
Rupp
|
3.5 bc
|
1.13 a
|
13.4 bc
|
1225 a-c
|
171 a-c
|
Connecticut Field
|
Rupp
|
3.2 c
|
0.94 c
|
10.9 d-f
|
1389 ab
|
153 a-c
|
Jackpot
|
Harris Moran
|
4.2 a-c
|
1.11 ab
|
13.2 b-d
|
1144 bc
|
151 bc
|
Wizard
|
Harris Moran
|
4.7 a
|
0.94 c
|
8.5 g
|
1716 ab
|
145 bc
|
Gold Strike
|
Rupp
|
4.2 a-c
|
1.06 a-
|
14.0 b
|
1021 bc
|
142 bc
|
Long Face
|
Seneca
|
4.7 a
|
1.11 ab
|
10.4 e-g
|
1307 ab
|
137 bc
|
Mother Lode
|
Rupp
|
3.7 a-c
|
1.16 a
|
10.2 fg
|
1021 bc
|
120 bc
|
Gold Rush
|
Rupp
|
3.5 bc
|
1.04 a-
|
16.2 a
|
613 c
|
98 c
|
zColor rating; 1 = very pale orange,
5 = deep orange.
yShape = height/width
xMean separation in columns by Duncan's multiple
range test, 5% level.
|
Comments: In row spacing 40 in., between row spacing 8ft. Trickle
irrigation under white polyethylene mulch. Fertilizer applied 146-45-146
lb/A N-P2O5-K2O.
(Olson, Vegetarian 99-06)
GREENHOUSE ACREAGE IN NORTH AMERICA AND MEXICO
An
update on greenhouse vegetable acreage was recently presented by several
experts at the Southeastern United States Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
Conference held in Tallahassee on May 19, 1999. The information shows
rapid expansion in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The most
rapid United States expansion is in the southwest (Texas, Arizona,
Colorado, etc.). The following is a summary of the information presented
by:
Dr.
Merle Jensen, University of Arizona,
Dr.
Rick Snyder, Mississippi State University, and Shalin Khosla, Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Southwestern United States and Mexico
In
the last six years, over 400 acres of greenhouses for vegetable production
have been built in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada,
New Mexico and Texas, and in Mexico, 1,200 acres. In the next year,
over 80 - 100 acres will be added to the existing 108 acres in Arizona,
making it the fastest growing industry in Arizona (Table 3).
In
the next several years, the greenhouse vegetable industry will see
tremendous growth in Mexico. Many of the facilities are being built
at low elevations, where the production will only be during the winter
months.
Starting
several years ago, growers from Canada started establishing greenhouse
operations in Arizona and northern Mexico, specifically for market
in Canada in order to compliment existing production occurring in
the spring to late fall. There is increasing attention being given
to the continuous supply of the product. For the Canadian growers
to accomplish this, they are looking at the high light regions of
the southwestern United States and northern Mexico to meet their winter
needs.
The
production in the southwestern United States is mostly tomatoes, with
some peppers produced in Texas. In Mexico, 65-70% of the production
is tomatoes, 15-20% cucumbers, 5-10% peppers and the rest melons,
herbs, eggplants, etc.
| Table 3. Greenhouse Vegetable
Acreage |
| Country |
Acres |
Acres in Construction |
United States
|
|
|
| Arizona< |
112.0 |
80.0< |
| California |
50.0 |
40.0 |
| Colorado |
94.0 |
12.5 |
| Nevada |
12.0 |
00.0 |
| New Mexico |
80.0 |
00.0 |
| Texas |
50.0 |
00.0 |
| Mexico1 |
|
|
| Baja California |
285.6 |
17.5 |
| Baja California Sur |
05.0 |
00.0< |
| Guanajuato |
05.0 |
00.0 |
| Jalisco |
305.5 |
52.5 |
| Meridad Yucatan |
67.5 |
00.0 |
| Morelos |
12.5 |
00.0 |
| Nuevo Leon |
20.0 |
00.0 |
| Queretaro |
27.5 |
05.0 |
| Sinaloa |
317.3 |
100.0 |
| Sonora |
97.5 |
41.3 |
| Tamaulipas |
05.0 |
00.0 |
| 1Asociacion Mexicana de Productores
de Hortalizas Bajo Invernadero (AMPHI) |
Eastern United States
Greenhouse tomato acreage has clearly been in a boom cycle in the
mid and late 1990's. While the great majority of growers are very
small in greenhouse size, three large companies now comprise about
half of the acreage in the United States. These companies are summarized
in Table 2 as "major players".
| Table 4. Major Players - Summary
|
| Company |
Locations |
Crop/Acreage |
| Bonita Nursery (BN) |
AZ
|
80 A Tom |
| Village Farms (VF) |
NY, PA, VA, TX |
175 A Tom + 24 A Pep |
| Colorado Greenhouse (CG) |
CO, NM |
110 A Tom |
States with the most greenhouse tomato acreage are shown in Table
4. As shown, leading states as of this writing are Texas, Arizona,
Colorado, and Virginia. As noted in parentheses in the table, virtually
all of this acreage is due to the "major players" (VF = Village Farms,
BN = Bonita Nursery, CG = Colorado Greenhouse). In fact, if you add
up all of the "major player" acreage in the U.S. as of April 1999,
you would get 365 acres, which is about 49% of the total estimated
acreage in the U.S. (750 acres). Note: these figures do not include
proposed new ranges or proposed expansion of current facilities. However,
expansion plans for Arizona during 1999 and 2000 will very likely
put that state into first place in acreage.
The
figures in Table 5 only include greenhouse tomatoes, with no accounting
of other crops. It is interesting to note, however, that there has
been some broadening of greenhouse crop production into other crops
in the past few years. For example, it is estimated that Florida currently
has 25 acres of peppers, 24 acres of European cucumbers, 5 acres of
herbs, 4 acres of lettuce, and 1 acre of strawberries in greenhouses,
in addition to the tomatoes. Also, there are about 20 acres of raspberries
in walk-in tunnels. Both the tomato and pepper acreage are expected
to grow, mostly at the expense of decreasing cucumber production.
| Table 5. Leading Greenhouse Tomato States in
the U.S. |
| States |
Acres |
| Texas |
112 (82 VF) |
| Arizona |
108 (80 BN) |
| Colorado |
94 (90 CG) |
| Virginia |
43 (42 VF) |
| Pennsylvania< |
43 (20 VF) |
| New York |
35 (31 VF) |
| California |
30 |
| Ohio |
20< |
| Tennessee |
20 |
| New Mexico |
20 (20 CG) |
| Mississippi |
17 |
| New Jersey |
15 |
| Florida |
12 |
| Nevada |
12 |
| North Carolina |
10 |
| VF = Village Farms, BN = Bonita Nursery, CG
= Colorado Greenhouse |
The Canadian Greenhouse Vegetable Industry
The
Canadian industry (1,600 acres total) is delineated provincially.
Each province has its own characteristic (climate, cultural and market)
that has to be addressed. Ontario has (904 acres) the largest area
devoted to greenhouse vegetables in Canada, followed by British Columbia
(363 acres) and Quebec (247 acres). Alberta has a small but strong
industry.
The
majority of the production area in the greenhouses is devoted to tomatoes.
Most of this acreage is devoted to beefsteak tomato production, but
there is a steadily expanding area devoted to TOV (Tomato on the Vine).
The remaining portion of the acreage is devoted to cucumber and pepper
production. The pepper area has increased steadily over the past 5
years with a dramatic increase in the area devoted to pepper production
in Ontario over the past three years. Lettuce, herbs, oriental vegetables
and medicinal plants continue to be developed at a slower rate in
smaller greenhouses directed to sales to specific niche markets.
(B. Hochmuth, Vegetarian 99-06)
Starting a Community Garden
Many
citizens have backyard gardens and have been gardening for many years.
These backyard or family gardens are managed by individual family
members. However, community gardens are neighborhood open spaces managed
by and for the members are like a family. They need each other. They
need to work on problems that might get in the way of their helping
each other. But some of the hardest questions for community gardening
have been about how to start a community garden, how to coordinate
and work together to keep the garden growing and how to settle problems.
Organizing
the gardeners is as important as choosing a site. The first step in
starting a community garden is to bring together a group of interested
people in the neighborhood. If there are not enough people to start
with, distribute flyers around the community. Two or more persons
are needed to start a community garden. Others will follow later.
The
second step is an important one. It is to find a coordinator, or contact
person. Establishing a community garden requires a leader who organizes
and inspires the neighborhood to believe that together they really
can create a garden. A good coordinator should have a working knowledge
of vegetable gardening, a good relationship with the public, some
communication skills and the ability to organize, handle and manage
people. A Florida Master Gardener could serve as a coordinator.
The
third step is to identify and select a garden site. Choosing the garden
site is very important. The garden coordinator and other prospective
gardeners should look for a private/public vacant lot nearby where
they would like to start a community garden. The site should be near
a water supply (fire hydrant), should receive at least 4 to 6 hours
of direct sunlight, although the more light the better, should be
close enough to people who will be gardening for at least one year,
should be well drained and free from rubble and bricks as much as
possible, should be relatively free and away from possible sources
of pollution, and should be visible to the neighbors. The more public
a garden and closer it is to the people who work there, the better.
Then take a soil sample and send it for a pH test to determine fertilizer
requirements.
Then
find out the owner of the lot and get permission to use it for gardening.
A city may give the lot for gardening under some conditions.
After
choosing the site and getting permission to use the lot for gardening,
you are now ready for plot planning. The size of individual plots
may vary depending on how many people want to participate and how
much time they can spend for gardening. Usually a 10' x 25' plot can
be conveniently managed by one person. Compost bins, water supply,
garbage cans and other communal activities should be conveniently
located to all gardeners. Walkways and pathways should be about 4
feet, for carts and the gardeners' convenience. The planners should
determine the overall layout of the garden site in a thorough manner.
They should discuss this among the group in a full meeting to make
sure everyone is agreeable to everything that has been laid out.
Assign
individual plots to members filling out an enrollment form. Set up
communal utilities, such as compost bins, garbage cans, water drums,
tables, benches, etc. Decide and collect membership fees, if any,
to meet the expenses of communal utilities, water hose, fencing, etc.
Set up a committee to take care of general maintenance, such as weeding,
general cleaning, filling water drums, trash removal, etc., on a rotation
basis. Encourage youths to join for community pride and as extension
agents, you should help start these community gardens and help educate
the gardeners, but not get too involved in running them.
To
minimize vandalism. If needed, organize a community watch group among
the gardeners.
Florida
Cooperative Extension has free fact sheets on gardening as well as
bulletins available for a small charge. Many counties conduct clinics
and classes on gardening and many train Master Gardeners who can be
called on for expertise. Some counties also publish gardening newsletters.
(Stephens, Vegetarian 99-06)
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