The ‘Pick-Your-Own’ Model of Production and Marketing of Ethnic Crops in Central New Jersey, USA
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Procedure
3. History of PYO in the United States and New Jersey
4. Case Study: Specca Farm Pick-Your-Own
4.1. Specca Farms Pick-Your-Own (SFPYO) Vision
4.2. Farm Description and Ethnic Patronage
4.3. Ethnic Crop Groups
4.4. Crop Production
- Some cultural tips:
- Most brassica and leafy greens have small seeds;
- For plants that are spaced greater than 6” apart, use transplants;
- Prepare a fine soil bed that is firm, when you step on it you should sink about an inch into it;
- For plants less than 6” apart, direct seed 0.25 to 0.5” deep;
- Good seed to soil contact is important, press soil lightly after planting;
- A light layer of much (0.5”) to keep soil moist is helpful for germination;
- Keep irrigation handy in case it gets hot and dry or to help with germination after a hard rain;
- Plant on raised beds if your soil is heavy or tends to stay wet;
- Plant in rows to aid in weed control and harvest;
- The summer season is the most difficult time to get a good stand for direct seeded.
- Fertilizer application and irrigation:
- Leafy vegetables use a lot of water, have drip or overhead irrigation available for May through October;
- Overhead irrigation will help to cool a crop during the summer but avoid using it on mature greens;
- Leafy Greens are heavy feeders for crop nutrients;
- Organic sources of fertilizer also provide good root zone environments and should be used when possible;
- Chemical-based fertilizers provide a quick response and are useful after high rainfall;
- Avoid putting all the fertilizer on at the beginning of the crop; several side dresses are best.
- Insect and disease control:
- Everyone loves leafy greens—including insects, animals, fungi, and bacteria;
- Crop rotation is a first line of defense;
- Floating row covers help keep insects and animals out;
- Good aeration around the plants will help keep leaf diseases in check;
- There are some safe organic sprays that are available for home gardens;
- Beneficial insects can help with some insect control, as can removal by hand.
4.5. Marketing
5. Discussion
6. Summary and Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Ethics
Abbreviations
References
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Crop Group | Crop’s Common Name | Botanical Name | Associated Ethnic Nationalities |
---|---|---|---|
Brassicas | Collard Green | Brassica oleracea, var. acephala | Turkish, Southern US, African, Portuguese |
Kale | Brassica oleracea, var. acephala | American, Northern European | |
Turnip tops and bottoms | Brassica rapa, var. rapa | Indian, Southern US | |
Mustard greens | Sinapis alba | Indian, Southern US, African | |
Rape greens | Brassica napus, var. napus | Indian, Southern US, African | |
Arugula | Eruca sativa | American, Turkish, Italian | |
Broccoli raab | Brassica oleracea, var. italica | Italian, Indian, American | |
Cabbage | Brassica oleracea, var. capitata | Eastern European, German, Polish, Turkish | |
Cauliflower | Brassica oleracea, var. botrytis | Indian, Italian, Turkish | |
Broccoli | Brassica oleracea | Italian, Northern and Eastern Europe, American | |
Brussel Sprouts | Brassica oleracea, var. gemmifera | American, Turkish, Northern European | |
Daikon radish | Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus | Indian | |
Salad radishes | Raphanus sativus | American, Northern European | |
Rutabaga | Brassica napus, var. napobrassica | German, English | |
Kohlrabi | Brassica oleracea Gongylodes | German, English, American | |
Solanaceous Crops | Tomatoes | Solanum lycopersicum | All ethnic groups |
Peppers | Capsicum spp. | All ethnic groups | |
Eggplant | Solanum spp. | All ethnic groups | |
Potatoes | Solanum tuberosum | Turkish, Northern European | |
Legumes | Fava beans | Vicia faba | Italians, Greek, English, Egyptian, Jordanian |
Peas (including Field peas) | Pisum sativum | Turkish, English, German | |
String beans | Phaseolus vulgaris | Northern European, American | |
Lima beans | Phaseolus lunatus | Southern US, English | |
Italian broad beans | Phaseolus vulgaris | Turkish, Italian, Eastern European | |
Cranberry beans | Phaseolus vulgaris Cranberry | Italian, Turkish, Caribbean, African | |
Fenugreek | Trigonella foenum-graecum | Indian | |
Cucurbits | Cucumbers | Cucumis sativus | Turkish, Italian, Eastern European |
Cantaloupe | Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis | All ethnic groups | |
Watermelon | Citrullus lanatus | All ethnic groups | |
Bitter melons | Momordica charantia | Indian | |
Umbels | Carrots | Daucus carota subsp. sativus | All ethnic groups |
Parsnips | Pastinaca sativa | English, German | |
Parsley | Petroselinum crispum | All ethnic groups | |
Cilantro | Coriandrum sativum | Indian, Caribbean, Turkish | |
Dill | Anethum graveolens | Turkish, Indian, Eastern Europe | |
Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | Italian, Greek | |
Celeriac | Apium graveolens var. rapaceum | English, German | |
Others | Spinach | Spinacia oleracea | All ethnic groups |
Beets | Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris | All ethnic groups | |
Swiss chard | Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris | Turkish, Italian, American | |
Okra | Abelmoschus esculentus | Indian, Turkish, Caribbean, African | |
Jute leaf | Corchorus sp. | African, Caribbean | |
Red amaranth | Amaranthus spp | Indian, African, Caribbean | |
Lettuce | Lactuca sativa | All ethnic groups | |
Strawberry | Fragaria × ananassa | All ethnic groups |
Season | Major Operations | ||
---|---|---|---|
Production | Harvesting | Marketing | |
Spring (March–June) | Broccoli rabe, spinach, strawberries., Brussel sprouts Fava beans, peas, onions, brassicas | Broccoli rabe, spinach, strawberries., Brussel sprouts, Fava beans, peas, onions, brassicas | Broccoli rabe, spinach, strawberries., Brussel sprouts, Fava beans, peas, onions, brassicas |
Summer (July–September) | Solanaceous crops, beans, leafy greens, tomatoes | Solanaceous crops, beans, leafy greens, tomatoes | Solanaceous crops, beans, leafy greens, tomatoes |
Fall (September to November) | Spinach, beets, Swiss chard, cilantro, radishes, potatoes, various leafy greens, brassicas. | Spinach, beets, Swiss chard, cilantro, radishes, potatoes, various leafy greens, brassicas. | Spinach, beets, Swiss chard, cilantro, radishes, potatoes, various leafy greens, brassicas. |
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Share and Cite
Specca, D.; Specca, S.; Ayeni, A.O. The ‘Pick-Your-Own’ Model of Production and Marketing of Ethnic Crops in Central New Jersey, USA. Agronomy 2022, 12, 751. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030751
Specca D, Specca S, Ayeni AO. The ‘Pick-Your-Own’ Model of Production and Marketing of Ethnic Crops in Central New Jersey, USA. Agronomy. 2022; 12(3):751. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030751
Chicago/Turabian StyleSpecca, David, Stephen Specca, and Albert O. Ayeni. 2022. "The ‘Pick-Your-Own’ Model of Production and Marketing of Ethnic Crops in Central New Jersey, USA" Agronomy 12, no. 3: 751. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030751
APA StyleSpecca, D., Specca, S., & Ayeni, A. O. (2022). The ‘Pick-Your-Own’ Model of Production and Marketing of Ethnic Crops in Central New Jersey, USA. Agronomy, 12(3), 751. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030751