Farm diversification opens opportunity and increases potential profitability! Adding specialty fruit and vegetable crops to your farm can increase profit margins several ways. Like diversifying in the stock market, engaging in more than one enterprise and adding value to what you already grow will spread profit risk, not to mention “growing” interest in locally produced foods. On Thursday, June 2, 6:30 pm at Sumner Hall, Dr. Andrew Ristvey, a University of Maryland Extension Specialist for Commercial Horticulture will introduce attendees to some new potential specialty crops, including aronia, a small purple fruit packed with antioxidants.
Dr. Ristvey is also an affiliate faculty member with the Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Department at the University of Maryland College Park. He earned his Doctorate in Horticulture in 2004 studying nutrient dynamics in container operations. Andrew’s present extension and research programs are in nutrient and irrigation management, plant nutrition, growing-media for both the horticultural industry and green roof systems and sustainable alternative crop production, including the small fruit Aronia.
The Chestertown Environmental Series lectures and films are free and open to the public. They are held the first Thursday of each month, 6:30 pm at Sumner Hall, 206 South Queen St. The next scheduled lecture, July 7, is a discussion on Eight Essentials of Conservation Landscaping, and aesthetic and ecological principles of woodland gardening with Lyle Almond. The series is curated by Margo Bailey, and is sponsored by the Town of Chestertown.
For more information, go to https://www.chestertown.com/environment.
Joe Diamond says
This looks pretty good!
Aronia seems to be doing well in the midwest. One source reported a $6,000.00 per acre gross sale. Much above half of that seems to be net profit. The plants seem hardy over many climate zones and ther product seems to be well accepted where it is presented in markets.
But is it scenic? I mean rows and rows of plants just growing there……out in a field…….row after row? Thy might look like solar panels.
There is currently before the courts a petition to keep Kent County, Maryland scenic. Part of the argument is that land owners have a responsibility to provide income to the ancillary vendors in the region. You go and find a land use that does not need constant tillage, planting and equipment maintenance and the signs will come out.
Having seen a few grape operations I suspect the aronia will likewise not generate the runoff, dust, noise and sediment problems required for scenic agriculture. Perhaps these defects can be overlooked because this kind of operation might generate a few local jobs.
Joe