Steve Olson

Extension Specialist, Vegetables

Professor of Horticultural Sciences

Current Projects

Alternative Vegetable Crops

Farmers in the Suwannee Valley area of north Florida have been diversifying enterprises continuously for the past 10 to 15 years. Traditional dependable enterprises such as tobacco, grain crops, swine, and others have all declined in north Florida. A stable and dependable income from a crop like tobacco is difficult to replace. Alternative crops have been successfully adopted by many growers while others have been unsuccessful. Adoption of alternative crops and alternative marketing strategies for that crop need to be considered.  More...

Tomato Spotted Wilt Management

Epidemics of tomato spotted wilt, incited by Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV), which is the type member of tospovirus genus, have occurred throughout the region on vegetables, field and ornamental crops. Species of thrips in the southeastern USA, including the introduced western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), are pests of agronomic, vegetable, fruit, and ornamental plants.  More...

Variety Evaluations

Florida ranks second among the states in fresh market vegetable production on the basis of area under cultivation (10%), production (9%) and value (13%) of the crops grown. In 2000-2001, vegetables harvested from 281,000 acres had a farm value exceeding 1.7 billion dollars. More than 40 different crops are grown commercially and 12 of these have a farm value exceeding 10 million dollars. Commercial vegetable production occurs in almost every county in the state, but is most concentrated in the peninsula, particularly the southern half.  More...

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