Vegetable Farm

 Search for vegetable farm listings on LandAndFarm.com

In the U.S., nearly 3.7 million acres of vegetables were harvested from nearly 54,000 farms, according to the 2002 Census for Agriculture. That doesn't include orchard crops, legumes, or grains, so soybeans, barley, wheat and corn are excluded from that figure, as are apples and citrus fruits.

Organic produce is also gaining in popularity, with Americans eating more, and paying for, produce that is grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides, and is not waxed, colored or injected with dyes or additives. Organic farmers and organic produce are certified and regulated, and consumers are becoming more cognizant of organic food and their benefits.

Meanwhile, vegetable crops are still vulnerable, as they have been for thousands of years, to the exigencies of climate, weather, and pests. From peppers in California to sweet corn in Iowa, and from tomatoes in Florida to spinach in Washington state, vegetables are a big business -- and with the growth of exotic, heirloom and organic produce, increasingly a profitable one for some farmers.

According to Charles W. Marr of the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, there are a lot of good reason for small farms to grow vegetables. It can supplement other farm income, supply some of the family’s food as well as local needs, it can aid in developing a farming system, and it can be a step toward full time farming. Marr believes that growing vegetables probably fits into part-time farming better than most enterprises. It’s relatively easy to enlarge a home vegetable garden to a small commercial operation. Produce from the farm must be sold to repay the cost of production & realize a profit. Existing farming operations generally already have the equipment needed, reducing the need for added investment. Although marketing is usually a problem until an outlet is established, roadside selling and pick-your-own operations offer good market opportunities for locally grown produce.

Vegetable Farm Links:

Harvest for Humanity

Local Harvest

Food Security News

Seeding Rates for Vegetable Crops

Organic Vegetable Production: Managing Nutrients and Pests