ASU Extension

Vegetable Processing Center

pg电子下载 State University Extension Program (ASUEP) working closely with (the Quitman County Board of Supervisors, North Delta Mississippi Enterprise Community), the North Delta Produce Growers and Association Mississippi Association of Cooperative has established a fresh vegetable processing facility in Marks (Quitman County), Mississippi, which is the center of the North Delta Mississippi Enterprise Community. Under this agreement, pg电子下载 State University’s Cooperative Extension Program has provided the leadership in the establishment of a facility.

The Cooperative Extension Program will also work closely with the North Delta Produce Growers Association in other areas to include farmers in all of the targeted counties in the North Delta Mississippi Enterprises Community, which is a federal rural designation. This facility will serve as a value-added processing, assembly-line, and temporary storage facility for fresh vegetables that are either ready for immediate consumption or prepared for additional processing.

This facility will assist farmers in vegetable production practices through demonstrations, workshops, and seminars. It will also educate farmers on sanitation and post-harvest handling techniques and help expand marketing opportunities for present and prospective vegetable farmers in the North Delta.

The purpose of the center is to establish a vegetable processing and packing facility that will allow small farmers in the North Delta area to produce commercial vegetables in order to diversify their farm operations and to improve their marketing potential.

The potential vegetable market outlets include the casinos, state institutions, and wholesale/retail produce clients in Memphis, Chicago, St. Louis, and other produce outlets within 300 to 500 miles of Marks, Mississippi.

Sustainable Horticulture Systems Planned Program

The knowledge area of the planned program is as follows:

• Food technologies – Educational workshops, seminars and demonstration activities conducted at the Mark processing facility to:
  Establish a value-added processing, assembly ,and temporary storage facility for fresh
  vegetables that are either ready for immediate consumption or prepared for additional processing.
  Conduct an ongoing training program for members of the cooperative engaged in the commercial vegetable production program.
• Introduce small farmers to the latest technology available in alternative agricultural enterprises.

ASUEP STAFF MEMBERS:
TERRANCE EMERSON-PROGRAM ASSISTANT
PHONE: 601-326-2531
EMAIL: [email protected]
PERCY BALDWIN-FACILITY MANAGER
PHONE: 662-326-2531
EMAIL: [email protected]

The Preston Small Farm Incubator: Assisting Small and Limited-Resource Farmers Diversify Alternate Crop Production

The Small Farm Incubator Center (SFIC) was established in Preston, Mississippi, in the Summer of 1997. The Center was designed to support small- and limited-resource farmers transitioning to alternate crop production. Farmers needing to learn production methods for new alternate crops can receive hands-on cultural techniques training while producing the new crop on the Incubator site with assistance from pg电子下载 Extension personnel. Participants are expected to duplicate the production on his/her farm site. Activities at the center have expanded to include demonstrations and field days that support alternative crop production. It also serves as an Outreach center where pg电子下载 Extension Specialists can expand their reach by establishing demonstrations and programs to reach farmers and the general public in the east-central region of the State.

Program Area: Agriculture and Natural Resources

Mission

The Center’s mission is to serve the needs of small and limited-resource farmers and the rural population in the surrounding counties by offering educational information and training related to alternate production, marketing, and value-added product development.

Objectives

1. Provide educational materials and training for small and limited-resource farmers in the area of alternate crop production.
2. Serve as an pg电子下载 Extension outreach information and demonstration center by conducting cultivar trials and demonstrations under field and hoop-house production systems.
3. Assist pg电子下载 researchers and Extension personnel with research and demonstration plots conducted at the Small Farm Incubator.
4. Collaborate with other State and Federal agencies when using the Small Farm Incubator site to reach small- and limited-resource farmers and disadvantaged rural audiences.
5. Assist farmers with record keeping and demonstrate the importance of using good agricultural Practices and Safe Produce Handling.

Methodology

The Small Farm Incubator employs various outreach methods to achieve our teaching goals. Programs include the incubator program, field days, virtual courses, and select demonstrations on clients’ properties.

1. The Small Farm Incubator is designed to directly assist prospective producers in developing the skills and knowledge needed to produce, harvest, and market an alternative cope of their choice. New producers or producers wishing to gain a better understanding of what is involved in crop production are assigned up to two acres of land on the Small farm Incubator located in Winston County, Mississippi. Extension staff provides initial training on crop production (the selected crop) during the months prior to planting. The farmer is advised on cultivar selection and other inputs needed for crop production. Our clients are assisted with planting and cultural practices during the growing season. However, the producer is responsible for purchasing inputs and harvesting. The producers can be assisted with a crop for three years on the Incubator. During the three-year period, producers duplicate the cropping system on his/her farm.
2. The Small Farm Incubator field demonstrations are designed to showcase different alternative crops. Cowpea (pinkeye purple-hull type) is the crop that many small and limited-resource farmers around the Incubator Center grow on their initial planting. Demonstrations of watermelons, okra, peppers, squash, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, fall and spring greens, and cabbage are the common crops planted each year. These crops are continually evaluated by cultivars for production and quality. The demonstrations serve both the producers and home gardeners in surrounding counties. Crops such as moringa, decorative gourds, and basil are also grown to show greater diversity in alternative crops. The timing of demonstration plantings is set to coincide with the fall field day.
3. A 30 X 100 ft greenhouse at the Incubator is used to help local farmers get into different alternative crops. Transplants of cabbages, collards, tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, eggplants, and moringa are produced annually. Other crops are added to this mix as the farmers report a need for production. The greenhouse is also used to demonstrate tomato trellising and pruning along with bedding plant production. Other demonstrations in the greenhouse are developed to support field days.
4. Two hoop houses have been established at the Incubator Center. Hoop-houses extend the grown season, facilitating early crop harvesting in the Spring and/or production into the late Fall. Hoop-house production is another method available to Small and limited-resource farms to expand their production of alternative crops. They can also assist in transplant production. Spring greens and cabbage production are demonstrated, while tomatoes and peppers are used to show production lasting into November. Additional crops grown, as demonstrated in the hoop-houses, are eggplants and sweet potatoes for slip production.
5. Cowpea shelling equipment at the Small Farm Incubator attacks many visitors during the summer months. Home gardeners and small producers use the facility to shell peas. Incubator staff use these visits to conduct individual tours of the activities occurring in the field, greenhouse, and hoop-house.

ASUEP Staff Members

James Garner Ph.D – Farm Manager
662-773-7128
[email protected]

Leroy Hickman – Assistant Farm Manager
662-773-7128
[email protected]

Charles Hickman – Program Assistant
662-773-7128
[email protected]

John Hickman – Program Assistant
662-773-7128
[email protected]

LaTonya Glass – Adminstrative Assistant
662-773-7128
[email protected]

The pg电子下载 State University School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences is proud to announce the introduction of a new facility on the Lorman campus. The Product Development Center, a state of the art laboratory incubator facility, will be used to develop, enhance and promote the products of local farmers and entrepreneurs in surrounding communities, as well as those created by the University, preparing them for mass production and launching into the public eye.

With jointly-marketed products ranging from hot sauce, pepper sauce, jellies, jams and marinades to items like lip balm, hand creams, and soap, the Center is poised to create a diverse impact on entrepreneurship in the surrounding region.

Funded by the state of Mississippi as well as the United States Department of Agriculture, the Center will also collaborate with other entities like Canemount Plantation, The Chamber, and the Old Country Store to develop and sell products.

The Center is located outside of the front gate near the University’s main entrance. For more information, contact Mr. Anthony Reed at [email protected] or 601.877.2305.

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