“Root crops can help Hudson Valley growers stay profitable through the winter, cushioning the margins over more popular but often less profitable leafy greens.”įor locally minded consumers, finding Hudson Valley root vegetables off-season can be a challenge. “More and more growers are storing root crops and selling them through the winter to provide a steady income throughout the year,” explains Crystal Stewart of Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program (CCE ENYCHP), who organized a root crops variety trial at the Hudson Valley Farm Hub this season. Because they store well and can be sold long after harvest time, these vegetables can be of considerable value to Hudson Valley farmers. Among the most promising solutions being explored for growers looking to extend the season are root crops such as carrots, beets and parsnips. In fact, despite being occupied with maintenance on the farm and getting ready for spring, many farm owners rely on outside employment to carry them through the off season. But with a growing season that ends in the fall, the Northeast offers few opportunities for vegetable farmers to generate income from agriculture over the winter months. The ability to sell product year-round can be critical to the health of a farm enterprise.
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