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Variety selection is one of the most
important management decisions made by vegetable growers each year. Economic
returns on the monetary value of variety evaluations have not been developed,
however, failure to select the most suitable variety may result in loss of
yield, quality or market acceptability. Each year seed companies and experiment
stations release numerous new varieties to compete with those already
available. Accordingly, it is imperative that vegetable growers have current,
unbiased information on the performance of these new varieties. Evaluation Programs: NFREC-Suwannee Valley. Trials have been conducted over the past several years with pumpkins and calabaza, watermelons (both standard and triploid (seedless), specialty pepper and eggplant, asparagus, sweet onion, tobacco, and greenhouse crops such as tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, cut flowers, and herbs.. NFREC-Quincy. Trials have been conducted over the past several years with onions (sweet short-day types), collards and tomatoes (spring and fall (hot-set)) varieties. Currently a broccoli variety trial is being conducted along with an asparagus planting that is 2 years off from harvest. Trial information is available in Circular S-396, Vegetable Variety Trial Results in Florida. [Olson]
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For IFAS-related
questions or information, please contact IFAS
External Relations.
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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. 