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: "Galia Muskmelons: Evaluation for Florida Greenhouse Production" is available at:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS147 -Revised! This 5-page illustrated fact sheet, by Nicole L. Shaw, Dr. Daniel J. Cantliffe, and Dr. Jeanmarie M. Harty, evaluates the potential of the specialty melon prized for its aroma and high sugar content for greenhouse production in Florida. Discusses production methods and cultivar evaluation.
"Cucumber Anthracnose in Florida" is available on EDIS 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.
Panhandle Fresh Marketing Association Helps Farmers Access a Larger Market
By: Daniel E. Mullins, Extension Agent IV Santa Rosa County – Northwest, Milton, Florida
The marketing of specialty fruits and vegetables continues to be a most challenging activity for the small farmer. Typical methods such as U-pick, roadside and farmers’ markets are important, but the amount of produce that can be sold at a given time is often limited.
There has been a need to explore larger markets in the produce industry, but small farmers have been reluctant. This is apparently due to the existing or perceived complexity of obtaining a vendor ID number and meeting other requirements of the large chain stores.
The Panhandle Fresh Marketing Association, Inc. (PFMA) began as a not-for-profit organization in November, 2007. The PFMA, a community-based food-system model, is a local effort to assist farmers in pooling their resources and gaining access to larger markets in the industry.
“Panhandle Fresh” operates through the Team Santa Rosa Economic Development Council’s Agri-business Committee. Committee members include representatives of the IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension office, IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, and other farm related organizations and businesses.
PFMA currently operates in a regional area including the Florida counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton, and the Alabama counties of Mobile and Baldwin. Andrea Sutrick is the marketing manager, helping to provide the following services: accounting services, matching of orders with available produce from members, Wal-Mart vendor ID number (requiring a $3,000,000 hold harmless liability), and marketing of produce items.
Ten local farmers signed up with PFMA in 2008 and six participated in the program. During this first year of operation, PFMA performed well above expectation, marketing over $124,655 in fruits and vegetables. Watermelons represented 45% of overall sales, with green peanuts accounting for 26% of sales. The remaining 28% was comprised of a variety of vegetables. Over 20 farmers have currently signed up for the 2009 season.
Watermelons made up 45% of the overall sales through PFMA in 2008.
UF Involvement
Both the IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension office and the West Florida Research and Education Center have been involved in this program from the inception. Representatives from both IFAS organizations were involved in a series of planning meetings with the Agribusiness Committee beginning in 2006. This work resulted in the hiring of an Alternative Crops Manager, who helped market produce through PFMA during 2008, as well as establishing and maintaining specialty crop demonstrations at the IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC).
Extension specialty crop demonstrations continue at the WFREC. Field, greenhouse and shade-house production is featured during field days and other activities. Extension also offers traditional programming which includes grower education, consultation, plant problem diagnosis and cultural recommendations.
Broccoli and turnips are cool season crops that are marketed through the PFMA.
More About the Panhandle Fresh Marketing Association
Attend the Florida Small Farms & Alternative Enterprises Conference
August 1 – 2, 2009 - Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Florida
Cindy Anderson, Team Santa Rosa Executive Director is on the agenda with more details about PFMA.
For more information go to: http://www.smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu
2009 Florida Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference
July 18 – 19, 2009 - The Plantation Golf Resort and Spa – Crystal River Florida
Andrea Sutrick, PFMA Market Manager describes the program http://www.floridafarmbureau.org/programs/young_farmers_ranchers
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.
