ISHS Acta Horticulturae 318: II International Symposium on Specialty and Exotic Vegetable Crops
A PROCEDURE FOR EVALUATING PRODUCTION POTENTIALS AND DEVELOPING EXTENSION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEW VEGETABLE CROPS |
| Authors: | C. R. O'Dell, B. M. Young, Alicia M. Borowski, Susan B. Sterrett |
| Keywords: | Prior local research, procedure, checklist, profitability, attract growers |
| Abstract:
Vegetable cultivars and cultural practices often exhibit a narrow region of optimum performance compared to animal and agronomic enterprises. In the past, extension workers and growers have struggled with the introduction of new horticultural crops because they did not have sound extension recommendations based on prior local research. This paper outlines a workable standard procedure and checklist to determine the potential success of new horticultural industries and presents a plan to determine and solve major potential production problems prior to first commercial production attempts. Emphasis is placed on reducing grower risks by satisfying new crop production research needs for local conditions before growers attempt pilot production. The production methodology presented is compatible with but does not substitute for equally important new crop economic feasibility studies including market-window analyses and the discovery and development of new-crop market niches. A case history is presented as evidence supporting new crop production methodology developed and tested by the authors. | |
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