How were new crops developed?
Advisory committees, growers, county agents, researchers, and the general public are always coming up with new crop ideas. We determined which looked to be best suited to the state and have the best chances of success. Researchers were then recruited to initiate field, greenhouse, or laboratory studies. At the same time, market studies were started. If the new crop or product looked promising after the first stage, on-farm studies were initiated in cooperation with county extension agents. Taste-tests, market analyses, and test market sales were then started should be underway. If those efforts were successful, a grower education program was launched consisting of workshops, training sessions, presentations at growers’ conferences, leaflets, and the website.
