Vegetables | Organic Farming Research Foundation

Farm Made: A Guide to On-Farm Processing for Organic Producers

There are two obvious barriers organic producers face when they consider on-farm processing. The first is psychological. On-farm processing can appear intimidating and beyond reach, on one hand; on the other, it may seem unnecessary to someone who is already “adding value” by raising crops or livestock organically. The second barrier—a more pragmatic one—is the lack of good, producer-friendly information on small-scale organic processing and handling.

Establishing breeding populations for organic broccoli, sweet corn, and red kale varieties

Organic farmer interest in on-farm plant breeding has been on the rise due to a lack of available germplasm adapted to organic systems, a growing awareness of the value of regionally adapted varieties, and consolidations in the seed industry that have led to a decline in varietal offerings.

Managing Natural Habitat Can Aid in Organic Pest Control

Summary

Determing habitat requirements for natural enemies of farm pests

Coordinator: Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer, University of California, Berkeley

Maintaining a healthy population of beneficial insects that serve as natural enemies to crop pests is an important component of pest management for organic farmers. To do so, we must understand the habitat requirements of these insects.

Participatory screening of broccoli varieties for organic systems in Western North Carolina

Summary

Organic Seed Production Guides Help Fill Knowledge Gap

Summary

Production guides for organic carrot, lettuce and beet seed

Coordinator: Micaela Colley, Organic Seed Alliance, Port Townsend, Washington
Stakeholders: U.S. organic vegetable producers interested in producing organic vegetable seed

Harnessing aphid alarm pheromone to rid broccoli heads of aphids

Summary

Investigator: Phillip Fujiyoshi, Dept. of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis
Project location: Davis, California

The purpose of this project was to find a way to make aphid-infested broccoli heads marketable by inducing the aphids to walk away in response to alarm pheromone.

Seed Increase Trials Lead to Release of Promising New Disease- Resistant Varieties

Summary

Investigator: Michael Mazourek, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
Project location: Cornell University’s 30 acre certified organic Freeville Organic Research Farm, located 10 miles north of Cornell’s Ithaca, New York main campus.

Investigating the use of buckwheat strips to attract beneficial insects for the management of Colorado potato beetle

Summary

Investigator: Robert Hadad, Cornell Regional Vegetable Program, Lockport, NY
Project location: Four organic farms in upstate New York

Four organic breeding guides: An Introduction to Organic Breeding; and Organic Breeding for Sweet Corn, Carrots, and Tomatoes

Summary

Coordinator: Micaela Colley, Organic Seed Alliance, Port Townsend, WA
Project locations: Washington, Wisconsin, Oregon, Minnesota

Reducing risk associated with organic snap bean production in Wisconsin

Summary

Investigator: James Nienhuis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
Project location: Wisconsin