2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Diversification of crop production increases the sustainability, profitability, and competitiveness of Florida vegetable industry. In recent years, potato producers in Florida have experienced thin profit margins and are trying to enhance their profits by growing new crops. Demand of Asian vegetable commodities have been greatly increasing in USA. The increasing demand has resulted in rapid expansion of Asian vegetable production in Florida. Currently, more than 20 types of Asian vegetables are commercially grown in northeast and south Florida. Harvested acreage of Asian vegetable crops has expanded to 4,000 acres in 2017 from a few hundred acres in 2014. However, for many of these crops, there is not any UF/IFAS recommendation available for growers to follow. This absence of UF/IFAS science-based recommendation limits their production and may be negatively impacting the environment as local growers attempt to determine crop nutrient requirements with limited guidance. Yardlong bean is an effective nitrogen fixer. Yardlong bean growers apply 150 lbs/acre nitrogen every growing season. This over-fertilization can cause high nitrate concentration in groundwater. This presentation will summarize the production of Asian vegetable crops growing and expanding in Florida; issues and prospects.