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Marketing Strategies for Alabama Products are Brought to Wiregrass Field Day
HEADLAND, Ala.- Commodities grown in Alabama will now have a mark of distinction in the domestic and international market, thanks to a new program from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries called "Alabama . . . Experts in the Field."
At a recent Vegetable Field Day in Headland at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station System's Wiregrass Substation, George Paris of the marketing and economics division of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries spoke to a group of local growers about the program.
"We produce some of the best fruit and vegetable products in Alabama that you can find anywhere," Paris said.
The program, which promotes and marks Alabama products with the "Alabama . . . Experts in the Field" logo, has generated $2 million of new business for the state since it began in March, Paris said.
Paris also mentioned several marketing strategies of which produce growers can take advantage: pick your own, roadside markets, farmer's markets, wholesale dealers and marketing cooperatives. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the particular grower's situation, he said.
Richard Petcher, Coffee County Extension agent, discussed the success of New Brockton's farmer's market at the field day. The market is open Tuesday and Friday mornings, and there is no charge to the growers.
"Anybody can be a vegetable or fruit farmer. To me, it's a group of friends, and we just have fun," Petcher said. "We've even had a few children try it, and they did well."
Also at the field day, Joe Kemble, assistant professor of horticulture in Auburn University's College of Agriculture, spoke about the importance of irrigation for fruit and vegetable production.
"Irrigation is essential for consistent high yields and quality yields," Kemble said. "If you don't have it, you're going to need it." Drip irrigation is a good method to use, because it emits uniform amounts of water over a given area and uses about one-fourth of the water an overhead system would use, Kemble said. Also, fertilizers can be injected through the drip tape to the plant.
Other vegetable topics were also covered at the field day: spring and fall vegetable variety trial results by Eric Simonne, assistant professor of horticulture; vegetable processing by C.T. Harvey of Southern Frozen Foods; and tomato production in north Florida by Steve Olsen from the University of Florida.
The field day was co-sponsored by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station System and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
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News from:
Office of Ag Communications & Marketing
Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)
Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Anna M. Lee
