Vegetable and fruit growers benefit from producers’ seminar for those interested in wholesale produce production

  • by Jennifer Kneuss
  • January 3, 2011
  • 285
Vegetable and fruit growers benefit from producers’ seminar for those interested in wholesale produce production
Vegetable and fruit growers benefit from producers’ seminar for those interested in wholesale produce production
                        
Local foods are a hot topic these days. The media touts local foods everywhere you look. Foods produced locally are fresher, are often much tastier, and do not require cross-country transportation to deliver to consumers, thus reducing environmental impact. However, in order to have local foods available, there must be local food producers. Those interested in seeking out their own food sources can utilize such sites as www.localharvest.org to find suppliers within a specific radius of their zip code, but this route may not always be practical for all consumers. Sixteen years ago, a small group of area produce farmers came up with the idea of establishing a wholesale produce market where local grocers, produce stands, restaurants, and other vendors could purchase larger quantities of the fresh produce their customers wanted. So began the Farmer’s Produce Auction, near Mt. Hope, Ohio. During the growing months, everything from gorgeous flowering baskets, to seedling trays, to pallets loaded with fresh, plump tomatoes or juicy apples can be purchased in bulk. “Our buyers come from all over, and include major grocery store chains and wholesalers,” explained Jim Mullet, who has managed the auction since it’s beginning. “We have buyers from Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.” Although it is a private wholesale auction, it is open to the public. “Anyone can buy there, as long as you can buy and use the amount sold in a lot,” noted Fred Finney, a long time grower. A lot may be two-dozen hanging planters or twenty bushels of green peppers, with amounts varying considerably. As the popularity of the auction has grown, so has the need for quality producers. To that end, OSU Extension staff, auction staff, and several long time producers conducted a seminar on December 30 at the Mt. Hope Livestock Auction to educate potential growers about the profits, as well as pitfalls, involved in the wholesale produce production business. “Around 1988, I looked at the poor bottom line on raising milk and meat on my farm, and decided to go into produce farming,” shared Raymond Yoder, a well-known producer. He emphasized that produce farming is a way for a whole family to work together in something meaningful. “You can make a living on four to six acres of land, with fields, two high tunnels, and a flower greenhouse,” he said. “Make it fun for the family. Start out small, and work up. Don’t get too much going at once,” cautioned Finney. “You need to be out checking your crops once or twice a week, looking closely for any unusual bugs or leaf conditions that are suspicious,” warned Ron Hammond, OSU Extension entomologist Other topics included marketing considerations, the importance of location, drainage, and irrigation, and utilization of high tunnels in the growing process. The presenters all noted that the EPA is changing laws so that all produce will have to be watered through drip irrigation, with overhead irrigation being completely phased out in the near future. Soil health and the importance of soil testing, crop rotation to enhance soil health and reduce pest problems, and labor issues were also discussed, as were the specifics of produce packaging standards. One main point that Yoder emphasized was the choosing what varieties to grow. “You can’t just pick up any seed catalog and choose the varieties you like,” he emphasized. “Buyers will not purchase varieties with a short shelf life. The produce must be what our customers are looking for.” Finney also stressed food safety to those gathered. “All farmers need a food safety plan. You must have four things: safe water, worker sanitation, proper soil amendments, and careful record keeping for trace ability. We will be hosting a free seminar on food safety with a Cornell University expert on January 13 from 9 am to 3 pm, here at the Mt. Hope Livestock Auction facility.” The public is welcome to attend. For more information on produce growing, access the agriculture and natural resources section at www.wayne.osu.edu.


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load