ISHS Acta Horticulturae 318: II International Symposium on Specialty and Exotic Vegetable Crops
PRODUCTION TRENDS FOR SPECIALTY ASIAN VEGETABLES IN DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA |
| Author: | M. Lamberts |
| Abstract:
In addition to the traditional vegetables grown in Dade County in the fall and winter months, production of specialty Asian vegetables has been on the increase during the 1980s and 1990s. Part of this is due to the increase in the number of Asians, from both South and Southeast Asia, living in Dade County. The local population includes Thais, Indians, Filippinos, Chinese, and some Vietnamese and Cambodians. The other part is from an increase in demand, primarily in New York and Chicago, but also New Orleans, Los Angeles, and other cities. The crops are from a number of different plant families. Asian legumes include: guar or cluster bean (Cyamposis tetragonoloba); hyacinth bean, a.k.a. lablab bean, ‘papadi’ or ‘seim’ (Lablab niger or Dolichos lablab); and winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus). ‘Lauki’ or bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), ‘parvar’ or pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica), ‘tindora’ or ivy gourd (Coccinia cordifolia), luffa (Luffa cylindrica), Chinese okra (Luffa acutangula), winter melon (Benincasa hispida), chayote (Sechium edule) for stem tips, and bitter melon (Momordica charantia) are among the Cucurbits. Solanaceous crops are: very small eggplants (Solanum melongena), Thai eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon), and pea or cherry eggplant (Solanum torvum). The production of Asian herbs includes crops such as Curry Leaf, Holy Basil, and Lemon Grass, to name a few. | |
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