Expanding Winter Harvest & Sales - New England Vegetable Growers' Needs Assessment

Expanding Winter Harvest and Sales: New England Vegetable Growers’ Needs Assessment

We are seeking input and involvement from vegetable growers on a project to help build the capacity for winter vegetable production in our region. Northeast SARE has provided funding for a 3-year Research & Education project to expand winter harvest and sales for New England vegetable crops. Partners on the project include University of Massachusetts, University of New Hampshire, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) and Seacoast Eat Local. We are in the first year of the project, interviewing growers, setting up research trials, organizing winter markets, and planning educational workshops and meetings for farmers.

All information is confidential, and will be released only in aggregate.

Please complete our brief survey and get connected with a network of growers who are working to expand the winter harvest!

Question Title

WINTER SALES:
Did your farm sell vegetables during the winter last year (2009-2010)?

Yes

Question Title

MARKETING:
Indicate your farm’s winter marketing outlets below.

	Check all that apply
Winter Farmers' Markets	Winter Farmers' Markets Check all that apply
Winter CSA	Winter CSA Check all that apply
Sales to Restaurants	Sales to Restaurants Check all that apply
Wholesale	Wholesale Check all that apply

Other (please specify)

Question Title

Of total winter vegetable sales between December 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010, indicate what % was sold through each outlet.

Winter Farmers' Markets

Winter CSA

Sales to Restaurants

Wholesale

Other

Question Title

WINTER GROSS SALES:
What was your farm’s approximated gross income from vegetable sales last winter (December 2009 through April 2010)?

0 - $1,000

$1,000 - $5,000

$5,000 - $10,000

$10,000 - $25,000

$25,000 - $50,000

$50,000 - $100,000

$100,000 or more

Question Title

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL GROSS SALES: What % of your farm's annual gross vegetable sales are made during the winter months (December - April)?

Question Title

SEASON EXTENSION: If you use season extension, what type do you use? Check all that apply.

Row cover alone (with or without wire hoops)

Low tunnels with layers of row cover and/or plastic & hoops suited for snow load

High tunnels, unheated

Minimally heated greenhouse

Greenhouse with furnace/boiler using fossil fuels

Greenhouse with furnace/boiler using renewable fuels (solid or liquid)

Other (please describe):

Question Title

CROP STORAGE: If you store crops grown during the summer and fall, what type of storage do you use? Check all that apply.

Underground storage

Insulated above-ground storage

Storage with capacity for cooling from outside air only

Storage with capacity for active cooling

Storage with capacity for heating above ambient temperature.

Greenhouse used for storage

Storage held at <40, high humidity (conditions for root crops such as beets, carrots)

Storage held at <40, low humidity (for crops such as onions)

Storage held at 50-60 (for crops such as winter squash or sweet potatoes)

Other (please describe):

Question Title

NEEDS:
What kind of information or assistance does your farm need to help you expand winter production and marketing? Check all that apply.

Information about production of crops for winter harvest

Types of structures suitable for winter production (low/high tunnels, other)

Varieties, crops, timing, and pest management of crops for storage

Postharvest handling information for long term storage

Designs for crop storage facilities that meet your needs

Scaling up – systems for getting bigger

Labor issues

Developing year-round operating systems and financial planning

Market development

Information for customers about home storage and use of winter crops

What happened to getting a rest in the winter? -- and related issues

Other (please specify)

Question Title

GET INVOLVED!
If you would like to be notified about upcoming workshops, farmer-to-farmer meetings, farm visits, and other winter production and marketing resources, please provide your contact information.

Name:

Farm Name:

Email Address:

Mailing Address:

Phone:

Question Title

WINTER SALES: Did your farm sell vegetables during the winter last year (2009-2010)?

Question Title

MARKETING:Indicate your farm’s winter marketing outlets below.

Question Title

Of total winter vegetable sales between December 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010, indicate what % was sold through each outlet.

Question Title

WINTER GROSS SALES:What was your farm’s approximated gross income from vegetable sales last winter (December 2009 through April 2010)?

Question Title

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL GROSS SALES: What % of your farm's annual gross vegetable sales are made during the winter months (December - April)?

Question Title

SEASON EXTENSION: If you use season extension, what type do you use? Check all that apply.

Question Title

CROP STORAGE: If you store crops grown during the summer and fall, what type of storage do you use? Check all that apply.

Question Title

NEEDS: What kind of information or assistance does your farm need to help you expand winter production and marketing? Check all that apply.

Question Title

GET INVOLVED!If you would like to be notified about upcoming workshops, farmer-to-farmer meetings, farm visits, and other winter production and marketing resources, please provide your contact information.

Question Title

Please share any additional comments or ideas here:

WINTER SALES:
Did your farm sell vegetables during the winter last year (2009-2010)?

MARKETING:
Indicate your farm’s winter marketing outlets below.

WINTER GROSS SALES:
What was your farm’s approximated gross income from vegetable sales last winter (December 2009 through April 2010)?

NEEDS:
What kind of information or assistance does your farm need to help you expand winter production and marketing? Check all that apply.

GET INVOLVED!
If you would like to be notified about upcoming workshops, farmer-to-farmer meetings, farm visits, and other winter production and marketing resources, please provide your contact information.