Summary
This grant was awarded in partnership with the Clif Bar Family Foundation, and will allow organic farmers in Western North Carolina to work with researchers to identify the best existing and new broccoli varieties for their region. Farmers will select the varieties to be 
screened in conjunction with new breeding lines, and will identify which traits should be evaluated. In identifying varieties that are best adapted to the southern Appalachian region, where varying elevations result in varying temperatures, organic farmers expect to improve the quality of their broccoli crops, and increase their profits. In addition to growing broccoli that is resistant to the weather and pests in the mountanious area, the project is expected to improve the quality of organic research in North Carolina and pave the way for future projects involving organic growers in the area.