The 2009-2010 Vegetable Production Handbook for Florida is available online! Click here to see it now. The new handbook should be available in EDIS very soon.
Visit our archives. All of our archived issues from 1950-1999. These archived issues are full of interesting bits of knowledge. Click here to check out the topic of your interest now.
New EDIS Horticulture Publications
Our latest publications are now available on EDIS: "Cucumber Anthracnose in Florida" is available at:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PP266 - This 5-page fact sheet, by Jessica Palenchar, Dr. Danielle D. Treadwell, Dr. Lawrence E. Datnoff, and Dr. Amanda J. Gevens, describes the symptoms, causal organism, disease cycle, and management of cucumber anthracnose in Florida.
"Persistence of Plant-Available Phosphorus in Muck Soils after Fertilizer Application" is available on EDIS at:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/SS503. This publication, by Dr. Alan L. Wright, Dr. Edward A. Hanlon, Dr. J. Mabry McCray, and Dr. David D. Sui, provides growers in the Everglades Agricultural Area with information about the organic soils in southern Florida and their management to improve crop production while also reducing adverse environmental effects, especially during times of land use change.
"Blossom-End Rot in Bell Pepper: Causes and Prevention" is available on EDIS at:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/SS497. Revised! This publication, by Dr. George J. Hochmuth and Robert C. Hochmuth, is a 5-page fact sheet that describes the disorder of blossom-end rot (BER), including its symptoms, calcium physiology, calcium deficiency, factors predisposing fruits to BER, and prevention.
"Soil pH Effects on Nutrient Availability in the Everglades Agricultural Area" is available on EDIS at:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/SS500. Revised! This publication, by Dr. Alan L. Wright, Dr. Edward A. Hanlong, Dr. David Sui, and Dr. Ronald Rice, is a 5-page fact sheet that identifies strategies that could be used to address the problem of increasing pH in muck soils in the Everglades area.
"Beit Alpha Cucumber: A New Greenhouse Crop for Florida" is available on EDIS at:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/CV277. Revised! This publication, by Nicole L. Shaw and Dr. Daniel J. Cantliffe, is a 7-page illustrated fact sheet that describes this cucumber, which is similar in appearance and production to Dutch cucumbers, and discusses production methods, cultivar evaluation, powdery mildew resistance and snack-size cucumber cultivars.
"Weed Control in Pepper " is available on EDIS at:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WG034. Revised! This publication, by Dr. William M. Stall, is a 5-page fact sheet that describes effective weed management practices for pepper in Florida, includes a table of chemical controls.
"Review of Nutrient Management Systems for Florida Vegetable Producers: A White Paper from the UF/IFAS Vegetable Fertilizer Task Force" is available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS1156 - This 17-page white paper from the UF/IFAS Vegetable Fertilizer Task Force, by Dr. D. Cantliffe, Dr. P. Gilreath, Dr. D. Haman, Dr. C. Hutchinson, Dr. Y. Li, Dr. G. McAvoy, Dr. K. Migliaccio, Dr. T. Olczyk, Dr. S. Olson, Dr. D. Parmenter, Dr. B. Santos, Dr. S. Shukla, Dr. E. Simonne, Dr. C. Stanley, and Dr. A. Whidden, identifies differences between actual fertilization practices and UF/IFAS fertilizer recommendations, especially for vegetables grown with subsurface (central and south Florida) and overhead (Miami-Dade County) irrigation. The recommendations of the VFTF aim at bridging the gaps between science-based results and the diversity in production systems found in the Florida vegetable industry.
"Guide for Maintaining the Quality and Safety of Organic Vegetables and Melons During Harvest and Handling Operations" is available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS396 -This 7-page fact sheet, by Dr. Steven A. Sargent and Dr. Danielle Treadwell, decribes the practical guidelines to assist growers and handlers of organic vegetables and melons to minimize losses during harvest and handling operations. Differences in recommendations between crops grown using organic methods and conventional production methods are noted.
By: Jim DeValerio, Agricultural Extension Agent UF/IFAS Bradford County Extension Service, Starke, Florida
Bradford County boasts a total of ten roadside produce stands; eight are located along the US 301 corridor, three within the City of Starke and two are located off the major highway. In addition to selling to highway travelers, these locally owned small businesses provide a daily flow of fresh produce to residents of Lawtey, Starke and Hampton. They specialize in selling seasonal commodities including fruits, vegetables, citrus, pecans and Christmas trees.
Bradford County’s network of roadside stands benefits the community in many ways. It provides local jobs, brings in revenue and supports local farmers. All of the proprietors sell seasonal produce they either grow or buy from local farms. Many farmers do not want to direct market their produce and they are happy to sell their produce wholesale to a local outlet. Local supply is seasonal and is not available throughout the year so, out of necessity, all of the markets sell produce that is shipped in from out of state and from foreign markets. If the markets do not thrive all year they cannot support the local farmer during their growing season.
Half of Bradford County’s roadside markets have been open between seven and twenty years and their successes prove that locating a roadside stand near high density cities and/or high traffic locations is a good business strategy. According to Florida Department of Transportation statistics, twenty thousand potential customers see these stands every day. It is no accident that the majority of Bradford County roadside stands are located on the Tampa – Jacksonville highway.
Another successful strategy for locating a roadside stand is to grow the produce near the stand. Two prominent stand owners in Bradford County feature farms adjacent to their stores. Both of these farmer’s stands are adorned with trophies from the Bradford County Fair Association recognizing them for their record winning berries over the years. Generally, the products they grow are easy to sell and yield the greatest profit margins. The presence of those big berries and other vegetables growing on location brings in customers. The word is, “Fresh is Best.”
Bradford County roadside stands from north to south: White Oaks Produce, Kings, Normans, King’s Kountry Produce, J.C.’s Scales & Tails Seafood & Produce, Norman’s County Market, Sara B’s Market, and Citrus Shop & Produce.
Anyone is free to use the information in this newsletter. Whenever possible, please give credit to the authors. The purpose of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing information and does not necessarily constitute a recommendation of the product.
