Completed Project Report


Opportunities in organic sweetpotato production

  • Award Amount: $10,000
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2006 Value Added Enterprises/Farm Diversification Grants
  • Project Director:
  • Email: tcarey@ksu.edu
  • Organization: Kansas State University

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Project Overview

Significant and growing demand for organically grown sweetpotatoes presents an opportunity for growers in Kansas and the neighboring states of Missouri and Iowa. This region was once a major producer of sweetpotato, having the sandy loam soils and long, warm growing seasons required to produce excellent crops. Demand for organic sweetpotatoes exists both domestically (including regional and national markets) and internationally, and is not likely to be satisfied by producers in major sweetpotato production areas where current producers are not responding to this demand, due to incompatibilities with their current production systems.
We conducted 2 field days and a workshop, and worked with individual growers in selected areas of Kansas (and to a lesser extent in the region) to a) make producers aware of sweetpotato marketing opportunities; b) make producers aware of organic sweetpotato production techniques; c) assist certified organic producers to successfully grow and market organic sweetpotatoes; and d) assist conventional producers to transition to organic with intention of producing and marketing organic sweetpotatoes

Number of Participants: 60

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

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EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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