PRODUCTION AND MARKETING TECHNIQUES FOR SNOW PEAS FROM STEPHEN'S PRODUCE 'GARDEN FRESH' VEGETABLES AT LOCAL GREEN MARKETS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA

摘要

Stephen's Produce began in 1995 as a 0.03 acre market garden to supply the Jupiter Farms Green Market with a Saturday supply of "garden fresh" produce. The garden was expanded to 0.15 acres for the 2001-2002 season and now serves a larger clientele atthe Green Market in West Palm Beach. 'Oregon Sugar Pod II' snow peas were included in the crop mix each of the seven seasons. The sandy soil was amended with compost and horse manure/bedding and irrigated via drip tubing. Open beds on four-foot centerswere made each year and an insecticidal bait and fertilizer were applied preplant. Peas were direct seeded one row per bed every two to four weeks from October to February. Individual plantings were comprised of one to three trellises (51 to 53 linear feet per trellis). Trellises have been made from concrete-reinforcing wire, chicken wire, and welded fence wire. Days to first harvest ranged from 57 to 74 days. Peas were usually picked twice a week (Monday and Thursday), washed, bagged, weighed, and stored in a refrigerator until Friday night when they were moved into a styrofoam cooler with ice for transport to the market. Planting for the 2001-2002 season began 30 September. Peas were sold in quart-size freezer bags containing 0.66 Ib/bag at 3.00 dollar per bag (4.54/lb dollar). An average of 17.6 Ibs of peas valued at 78.00 dollar were sold each week for 22 weeks (3.29 dollar per linear ft of bed or 35,856 dollar per acre per crop).