USDA Survey Shows Rise in Winter Farmers Markets

The USDA recently released a report showing that the number of farmers markets operating in the winter has increased by 38%. Winter markets now make up nearly 17% of the nation's 7,222 operating farmers markets. Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation, with 78 winter markets operating this year.

Expanding markets for Pennsylvania produce is a win-win-win, for consumers, for producers, and for the state's economy. But how can growers supply winter markets when the snow is blowing and the ground is frozen? Season extension techniques such as high tunnels certainly help, but growers are taking a new look at some old technology: vegetable storage.

Ruth Hazzard, Vegetable Extension Specialist at the University of Massachusetts is leading a project in New England to help growers increase winter harvest and sales through season extension and storage. Over two hundred people attended sessions on winter growing and marketing, post harvest handling and long-term storage of vegetables at the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference on December 14, 2011, in Manchester, NH. As usual, growers are coming up with some very innovative and cost-effective ways to grow and store vegetables for winter market.

More information on the winter harvest and sales project can be found at the following website: http://extension.umass.edu/vegetable/research-projects/winter-harvest-sales

You can also download the Proceedings of the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference at no cost at http://www.newenglandvfc.org