Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Melanie Stock (Utah) facilitated the meeting, which opened with introductions. Participants briefly discussed how activities are being conducted in their states in response to COVID-19. Participants noted that although in-person events were taking place, attendance was down significantly. Participants were given an update by representatives of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and heard from a representative of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) regarding a potential multi-state Specialty Crop Block Grant proposal. Participants discussed progress made toward the project objectives, crop diversification activities going on in the participating states, and opportunities for future collaboration.
Written state reports were shared with the entire group by email prior to the meeting.

Complete meeting minutes and state reports are attached.

A website for this project is available at http://www.uky.edu/ccd/sera45.

Objective 1: Develop research-based production information about crops, systems, and production practices that have the potential to be profitable for small farms

Accomplishments:

Several participants have been collaborating on a squash hunger trials project. The goal of the project is to evaluate crops that offer a long storage life, and which could supply people without access to fresh fruits and vegetables during the fall and winter more access to nutrient dense foods for a longer time throughout the year. Annette Wszelaki (Tennessee) proposed this project at the 2019 SERA 45 annual meeting, and work began in 2020, with participants from SERA 45 and the Southeastern Vegetable Extension Workers Group (SEVEW). Eight states participated in 2020 (Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia), when 10 varieties of kabocha squash were evaluated. Researchers are in the process of analyzing data for a journal article and an extension publication. A multistate extension publication published through the University of Kentucky Center for Crop Diversification (CCD) is a possibility. The project continued in 2021, with expanded participation from SERA 45 and SEVEW. Eleven states (with 12 locations) participated, including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia. Ten varieties of Cucurbita maxima squash (flat stackers types) were evaluated (Blue Delight, Fairytale, Flat White Boer, Jarrahdale, Marina Di Chioggia, Mint Prince, Porcelain Doll, Royal Blue, Speckled Hound and Triamble).

SERA 45 participants from Kentucky (Krista Jacobsen, Rachel Rudolph, Tim Woods) and Tennessee (Wszelaki, Margarita Velandia) are among the principal investigators on a Specialty Crop Research Initiative planning grant for the project Reclaiming High Tunnel Soil Health for Sustained Specialty Crop Production (08/2020 – 08/2022).

Ajay Nair (Iowa) has been working on an Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) organic transition project in collaboration with the University of Kentucky, working with mesotunnels using Protek netting for season extension and microclimate modification. Research results are posted at https://www.cucurbit.plantpath.iastate.edu/blog.

Objective 2: Coordinate research and extension activities among participants

Accomplishments:

A Southern SARE Cover Crops Under Cover: Evaluating Costs, Benefits, and Ecosystem Services of Cover Crops in Year-Round High Tunnel Production Systems project involving SERA 45 participants from Kentucky and Tennessee has led to development of several publications. Two publications, Cool-season Cover Crops for High Tunnels in the Southeast (CCD-SP-18), and Warm-season Cover Crops for High Tunnels in the Southeast (CCD-SP-19) were published in 2021 by the CCD. Jacobsen, Rudolph and Wszelaki are among the authors of these publications, while SERA 45 participants Shawn Wright (Kentucky) and Lewis Jett (West Virginia) reviewed both publications.

 Growers using high tunnels were surveyed in 2019 to identify high tunnel practices and use on farms in Kentucky and surrounding states as part of the Southern SARE project. Nearly three-fourths of 106 responding producers operated high tunnels in Kentucky. Illinois accounted for 10 percent of respondents and other states (Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama) accounted for 17 percent. The survey showed that growers in the region have used high tunnels to lengthen their season and expand farm production for established markets, while also entering smaller-volume wholesale markets with high tunnel products. The resulting publication, High Tunnel Production and Marketing Survey: Data Summary (CCD-SP-17) was published in November 2020 and posted on the CCD website. SERA 45 participants Woods, Brett Wolff and Jacobsen are among the authors of this publication, while Tennessee’s Wszelaki contributed significantly to the survey design and implementation. SERA 45 participants Wright and Rudolph reviewed the publication.

 A co-branded publication, Growing, Harvesting, Preserving Appalachian Heirloom Beans (CCD-WVU-FS-2, ANR-HORT-21-001), written by Jett (West Virginia), was published by the CCD in 2021. SERA 45 participant Wright (Kentucky) was one of the reviewers of this publication.

The CCD developed four additional “crop profiles” for Tennessee’s Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA) as part of a Tennessee Specialty Crop Block Grant in 2021. The CPA has developed a website at https://cpa.tennessee.edu/specialty-crop-profiles/ to house these co-branded profiles. Since our 2020 annual meeting, the following profiles have been completed and posted on the CPA website: Cut Flower Production in Tennessee (CCD-CPA-CP-3), High Tunnel Overview (CCD-SP-2, CCD-CPA-SP-1), and Cider Apples in Tennessee: Basic Considerations (CCD-CPA-CP-4). Another profile, Growing and Marketing Mushrooms in Tennessee: Basic Considerations, is under review. This work led to multiple extension agent in-service trainings and a presentation. Christy Cassady (Kentucky) and Wolff (Kentucky) participated in an Introduction to Crop Profiles: Value-Added Agriculture Insights in-service training for Tennessee extension agents in January 2021. SERA 45 participant Troy Dugger (Tennessee) participated in online trainings for agents and growers based on the CCD-CPA profiles, including Growing Cut Flowers in Tennessee and Growing Garden Mums in Tennessee, and gave a presentation, Crop Profiles for Specialty Crop Growers, at the Tennessee State University Virtual Small Farms Expo, all in 2021.

 Wszelaki and Rudolph collaborated on a Getting Ready for Market webinar series in March of 2021. Topics were: Organic Certification and Production Basics; Season Extension Basics; Post-harvest and Handling Basics; Soil Fertility in High Tunnels; and Food Safety/GAP. Wszelaki and Rudolph participated in an Organic Production agent in-service training in March 2021, with over 150 attendees from 11 states across the Southeast.

 The CCD has promoted activities in the participating states through its monthly newsletter, website and Facebook page. These include research projects, webinars, conferences, field days and workshops. SERA 45 participants from the University of Kentucky, North Carolina State University, the University of Tennessee and West Virginia University have reviewed specialty crop fact sheets for the CCD during the past year.

Objective 3: Develop farm market, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), on-farm retailing and other direct market information and decision aids that can be shared regionally

 Accomplishments: The CCD continued coordinating price reporting from farmers markets and produce auctions around Kentucky. The CCD website links to the Indiana Farmers Market Price Report at https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/hortbusiness/price-reports/. Price reports from Kentucky, as well as the link to the Indiana price report, and a link to an Ohio produce auction price report, are available on the CCD website at http://www.uky.edu/ccd/pricereports. Challenges resulting from COVID-19 prevented other states from participating in price reporting in 2021. SERA 45 chair Melanie Stock (Utah) collaborated with Savannah Columbia (Kentucky) to develop the publication Cut Flowers for Community Supported Agriculture Production (CCD-MR-2) in 2021, while Woods (Kentucky) was among the reviewers of this publication.

Objective 4: Continue market research in the participating states on consumer preferences and marketing channels that are most effective and profitable for small farms

 Accomplishments: Kentucky and Tennessee were involved in a Southern SARE-funded project, Extending Roots of Fresh Stop Markets across the Southeast Region through September 2021. The project looked at the economics of Fresh Stop Markets, which have had success in Kentucky, and the goal is to expand that success throughout the Southeast. Fresh Stop Markets allow higher income families to subsidize lower income families buying fresh food. Details are available at https://projects.sare.org/project-reports/ls18-300/.

Woods and Wolff (Kentucky) were involved in 2021 in a national Local Food Systems Response to COVID project (https://lfscovid.localfoodeconomics.com/), which includes 17 communities of practice. Woods and Wolff have been working with produce auctions, and the study also involves Farm to School, the National Farmers Market Coalition, National Co-op Grocers, National Grocers Association, the James Beard Foundation (restaurants) and the Wallace Center (food hubs), as well as other partners.

Plans for the coming year: The squash hunger trials will continue. SERA 45 participants interested in joining the project in 2022 were invited to contact Wszelaki at annettew@utk.edu. The group is considering branching out into sweet potato trials, and any crop that offers long storage will be considered. Winter melons, Chinese cabbage, daikon radish, dry beans and Irish potato are also possibilities. Participants Jacobsen, Rudolph and Woods (Kentucky), and Wszelaki and Velandia (Tennessee) will be involved in the Reclaiming High Tunnel Soil Health for Sustained Specialty Crop Production SCRI grant work through August of 2022. This grant will allow researchers to map out survey work, focus groups and case studies to help growers market their high tunnel crops, looking at ways to integrate high tunnels into small farm businesses. Stock (Utah) will collaborate with extension personnel from Kentucky and the Kentucky Horticulture Council (KHC) on development of a cut flower marketing school as part of a  Kentucky Specialty Crop Block Grant. The final crop profile developed for Tennessee’s Center for Profitable Agriculture, Marketing Mushrooms in Tennessee: Basic Considerations, will be completed and posted on the CPA website. Work will continue on the Local Food Systems Response to COVID project.

Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2021 (ID-56)

https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number=ID-56

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports for 2021

https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/mwvtr/

2021 Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/southeastern-us-vegetable-crop-handbook

Columbia, S., and M. Stock. (2021). Cut Flowers for Community Supported Agriculture Production (CCD-MR-2). Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. http://www.uky.edu/ccd/marketready/CutFlowerCSA

Coolong et al. (2021). Cool-season Cover Crops for High Tunnels in the Southeast (CCD-SP-18). Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

https://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/cool-season_covercrops.pdf

Coolong et al. (2021). Warm-season Cover Crops for High Tunnels in the Southeast (CCD-SP-19). Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. https://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/warm-season_covercrops.pdf

Ernst, M. (2021). Cut Flower Production in Tennessee. CCD-CPA-CP-3. Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

https://cpa.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/106/2021/07/TNcutflowers_Final.pdf

Ernst et al. (2020). High Tunnel Crop Production and Marketing Survey: Data Summary. (CCD-SP-17). Lexington, KY: Center for Diversification, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. https://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/HTsurvey.pdf

Ernst, M., and C. Cassady. (2021). High Tunnel Overview. CCD-SP-2, CCD-CPA-SP-1. Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

https://cpa.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/106/2021/08/HToverview.pdf

Jett, L. (2021). Growing, Harvesting, Preserving Appalachian Heirloom Beans (CCD-WVU-FS-2, ANR-HORT-21-001). Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. https://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/appalachian_heirloom_beans.pdf

Wolff, B. (2021). Cider Apples in Tennessee: Basic Considerations (CCD-CPA-CP-4). Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

https://cpa.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/106/2021/10/TNciderapples.pdf