Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Over the course of the project several activities were implemented: 1. Surveys. Several surveys were implemented in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese and Hmong. The purpose of these surveys was to learn more about the use of food, especially locally-grown herbs and vegetables, and the eating habits of these communities. These included surveys of consumers and market owners/managersof Brazilian and Latino stores. These surveys documented several agricultural products that are popular in Brazilian and Latino cuisine that can be produced in Massachusetts. Results also showed that a large percentage of the Brazilians surveyed are from the state of Minas Gerais, emphasizing the importance of agricultural products popular in that region of Brazil. 2. Promotional activities. Activities were implemented to promote locally-grown vegetables and herbs. These included a publicity campaign in Portuguese language media, including advertisements in local Brazilian newspapers, commercials on Brazilian cable stations, interviews conducted for a Brazilian cable station and newspapers, and flyers distributed in Brazilian communities. 3. Website with production information on ethnic crops. A website was launched in 2003 with production information on crops popular with the growing ethnic populations in the Northeastern United States. This information is available at www.worldcrops.org. This site provides information on agricultural crops that are popular among ethnic groups living in this region and can be grown in the Northeastern United States. The crop information at www.worldcrops.org is organized according to the countries where they are popular. For example, if a grower wants to sell to a market popular among Puerto Ricans, this grower can go to www.wroldcrops.org and click on Americas. Then click on Puerto Rico and a page will appear with a map of Puerto Rico and a very brief description of the country. On the right-hand side is a list of crops that are popular in Puerto Rico. When you click on a crop you will be brought to a fact sheet with all the information a commercial grower needs to know to grow the crop. There are over 20 crop profiles on this website. 4. Crop Research. Multiple experiments were conducted at the UMass Research Farm in Deerfield MA and also on commercial farms in the state and region. Much of the information added to wwworldcrops.org came from the results of research implemented on these crops at the UMass Research Farm in Deerfield Massachusetts. 5. Outreach. Presentations were given at professional meetings, farmer conferences, and to community groups on all aspects of this work. Trainings were implemented with immigrant farming groups during the course of this project. Over 15 fact sheets were produced during the course of this project, in multiple languages, to promote the production and consumption of locally-grown vegetables and herbs. 6. Development of recipes. Over 15 nutritionally-balanced recipes using traditional fresh vegetables popular among Guatemalans, Salvadorans, Portuguese and Brazilians were researched, tested and made available in appropriate languages. PARTICIPANTS: Frank Mangan, Extension faculty, University of Massachusetts, Zoraoa de Jesus Barros, graduate student, University of Massachusetts Krystian Obando Madrid, graduate student, University of Massachusetts Maria Moreira, Extension Educator, University of Massachusetts Raquel Uchoa de Mendonca, graduate student, University of Massachusetts TARGET AUDIENCES: A focus of this work was to provide sustainable production practices to commercial farmers in the state and region. The crops researched were popular among Latinos, especially Puerto Rican, Dominicans, Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Mexicans. Also crops popular among Brazilians. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Due of the activities of this work, farmers in Massachusetts sold more than $2,000,000 worth of ethnic vegetables that had never been grown in the state previously. Members of ethnic communities had access to locally-grown vegetables and herbs that had not been available fresh before this work. Over 1,000 farmers in the state, region and country were made aware of the results of this work due to presentations at conferences, fact sheets, and web-based information. Over 100,000 consumers in the United States were reached through advertisements and a cable show about this work. A website launched as part of this work, worldcrops.org, averaged over 2,000 hits/month since being launched in 2003. The created website provides commercial growers with specific production and marketing information on ethnic crops. This information allows commercial growers to expand the number of crops they grow, thus diversifying their production, and gain access to new markets represented by the tremendous growth of immigrant groups in the state and region. The majority of crops listed on worldcrops.org were evaluated at the UMass Research Farm Information on these crops was disseminated to commercial growers through several twilight meetings held at the UMass Research Farm and through web-based technologies. Among the many crops evaluated were aji dulce (Capsicum chinense), poblano peppers (Capsicum annuum), serrano peppers (Capsicuum annuum), and taioba (Xanthosoma sagittifolium). Substantial information was learned through surveys. For example, 100% of Portuguese and Brazilian food stamp recipients in Cambridge MA surveyed in 2006 preferred to take the survey in Portuguese. Less than 5% of the three target populations speak English at home. This suggests the importance of implementing nutrition education in Portuguese with Portuguese and Brazilian food stamp recipients. Cape Verdean Creole was the most common language preferred by the Cape Verdean population, followed by English and then Portuguese. Over 95% of the Cape Verdean population speaks Cape Verdean Creole at home. Forty percent of the Portuguese population and 10% of the Cape Verdean population surveyed do not read any language. Less than 25% of all three populations read English. Over 15 nutritionally-balanced, culturally-appropriate recipes were produced with an emphasis on locally-grown agricultural products. These recipes were made available in several languages, including Portuguese and Spanish. Over 3,000 recipes were disseminated to mostly food stamp and WIC recipients during this project. One of the recipes evaluated was for pupusas, a traditional dish popular in Central America (Massachusetts has a very large Salvadoran and Guatemalan population). The healthier versions of pupusas reduced saturated fat by 12% from the traditional versions of pupusas that use ayote (squash), lorroco (a traditional flower bud in El Salvador) and spinach. The healthier versions of these recipes reduced saturated fat by over 25% and significantly increased dietary fiber from the most traditional type of pupusas (pupusas with fried pork rinds and cheese).
Publications
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Chipilin (Crotalaria longirostrata). Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Chipilin.cfm
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides). Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Epazote.cfm
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Huauzontle (Chenopodium berlandieri spp. Nuttalliae). Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Huauzontle.cfm
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Papalo (Porophyllum spp.) Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Papalo.cfm
- Govindasamy, Ramu, Richard VanVranken, William Sciarappa, Albert Ayeni, Venkata S. Puduri, Kim Pappas, James E. Simon, Frank Mangan, Mary Lamberts, and Gene McAvoy. 2007. Demographics and the Marketing of Asian and Hispanic Produce in the Eastern Coastal USA. New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station P-02903-2-07.November 2007 73 pages.
- Barros, Z., K. Madrid, M. Moreira, and F. Mangan. 2008. Cultivando Taioba no seu Jardim (Cutlivating taioba in your garden). A five minute video in Portuguese produced for Brazilian homeowners buying taioba for their gardens on Marthas Vineyard. Available at www.taiobaumass.com
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Chilaca Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Chilaca-Pepper.cfm
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Chile de Arbol Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Chile-de-Arbol-Pepper.cfm
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Guajillo Peppers Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Guajillo-Peppers.cfm
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Guajillo Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Guajillo-Peppers.cfm
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Jalapeno Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Jalapeno-Pepper.cfm
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Poblano Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Poblano-Pepper.cfm
- Mangan, F., K. Madrid, Z. Barros and M. Moreira. 2008. Sustainable Production for Serrano Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Article for www.worldcrops.org. http://www.worldcrops.org/crops/Serrano-Pepper.cfm
- Cultivando Taioba no seu Jardim (Cutlivating taioba in your garden). 2008 Fact sheet in Portuguese for Brazilian home owners on Marthas Vineyard. Two pages. Available at http://www.umassvegetable.org/
- Como Manter a sua Taioba no Outono/Inverno em Massachusetts (How to Maintain your taioba in the fall and winter in Massachusetts). 2008 Fact sheet in Portuguese for Brazilian home owners on Marthas Vineyard. Two pages. Available at http://www.umassvegetable.org/
- Barros, Z., M. Moreira, K. Madrid, and F. Mangan. Cheese Filled Pupusas. Nutritionally-balanced recipe (Spanish and English). 2008. Two pages. Available at http://www.umassvegetable.org/
- Barros, Z., M. Moreira, K. Madrid, and F. Mangan. Pupusas with Loroco. Nutritionally-balanced recipe (Spanish and English). 2008. Two pages. Available at http://www.umassvegetable.org/
- Barros, Z., M. Moreira, K. Madrid, and F. Mangan. Pupusas with Beans. Nutritionally-balanced recipe (Spanish and English). 2008. Two pages. Available at http://www.umassvegetable.org/
- Barros, Z., M. Moreira, and F. Mangan. Brazial Squash saute. Nutritionally-balanced recipe (Portuguese and English). 2008. Two pages. Available at http://www.umassvegetable.org/
- Mangan, F. R. Mendonca, M. Moreira. S. Nunes, F. Finger, Z. Barros, H. Galvao, G. Almeida, and M. Anderson. 2007. Production and marketing of vegetables for the ethnic markets in the United States. Revista Horticultura Brasileira. Horticultura. Brasileira 26: 006-014.
- Mangan, F., M. Moreira, and R. Uchoa de Mendonca. 2007. New England Farmers Meet Immigrant Needs. Communities and Banking, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Fall 2007. pp 10-13 http://www.bos.frb.org/commdev/c&b/2007/fall/Mangan_UMass_immigrant_f arming.pdf
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Work focused on three projects in 2006-2007. 1. A regional project to evaluate locally-grown vegetable crops for immigrant markets. These crops were evaluated at 6 sites located in three states along the East Coast: two in Florida, one in Massachusetts, and three in New Jersey. In Massachusetts, fifteen different vegetable crops were evaluated at the UMass Research Farm in S. Deerfield MA. Major groups of crops evaluated were gourds/cucurbits, eggplants, peppers, and herbs. Crop quality and yield parameters were developed, with specific regard for cost factors, seasonal/monthly yield variations, and seed availability (imports or recently developed hybrids) in order to make recommendations for geographic sequencing of production, by month/season. 2. Evaluation of chipilin and taioba for production in Massachusetts. Chipilin (Crotalaria longirostrata) is an herb that is popular among Central Americans and people in Southern Mexico. Plants were evaluated at the UMass Research
Farm in 2006 with very positive results. One vendor at Chelsea Market that evaluated samples said they could sell 500 pounds/week (wholesale price was $4.00/pound). Taioba (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) is the leaf of an aroid and is normally grown as a root crop. The leaf of this crop is very popular among Brazilians and West Africans. We've evaluated this crop at the UMass Research Farm and in the greenhouse. This crop can be sold as a leaf or as a bedding plant. Sales at selected stores of the leaf were strong and the wholesale price was $4.00/pound. Research in 2007 at the UMass Research Farm in S. Deerfield MA focused on several aspects necessary to promote viable production of these crops in Massachusetts. This included transplant production, pest management practices to control leaf hopper damage on chipilin, and nutrient management. The spring nitrate test was used to schedule nitrogen fertilization. 3. Evaluation of culturally-appropriate and nutritionally-balanced recipes using
corn and maxixe. Maxixie (Cucumis anguria), very similar to cucumber (Cucumis sativus), is thought to have originated in Africa. It was at one time thought to be from the West Indies, which is why it is also known as West Indian gherkin. Bur cucumber is another name for this crop. Maxixe is most popular in Northeastern Brazil. The variety sold by a major seed company in Brazil is called "Maxixe do norte" (Maxixe of the north in Portuguese). Corn is a staple food crop in all of the Americas. In the United States, the dominant form of corn consumed by non-immigrant communities is sweet corn. In all the countries of Latin America, sweet corn is rarely used. Corn varieties without the sweet corn gene dominate. Members of the Brazilin and Latino communities in Massachusetts provided traditional recipes using corn and maxixe and these recipes were evaluated for the nutritional analysis using a Food Processor Program. Modifications were made to these recipes to make them more nutritionally
balanced. These recipes were distributed at over 20 farmers' markets in Massachusetts.
PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Maria Moreira, Samanta Nunes and Rachel Silva (University of Massachsuetts) Collaborators: Rutgers University, University of Florida, UMass Nutrition Education Program
TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audience: Commercial growers, Brazilian community. Latino community
Impacts
1. A regional project to evaluate locally-grown vegetable crops for immigrant markets. Knowledge was gained on all of the crops evaluated. Information on these crops was disseminated to commercial growers through a twilight meeting had at the UMass Research Farm and through web-based technologies. The most promising crops evaluated were aji dulce (Capsicum chinense), poblano peppers (Capsicum annuum) and serrano peppers (Capsicuum annuum). More work with these peppers will be implemented in 2008 at the UMass Research Farm. 2. Evaluation of chipilin and taioba for production in Massachusetts. Knowledge was gained on both of these crops. Chipilin holds tremendous promise for commercial production in Massachusetts. Two major impediments identified were poor seed germination and cosmetic damage caused by potato leaf hopper. In 2008, other sources of chipilin will be evaluated for better seed germination. For potato leaf hopper control, the pesticide pyganic was not
effective in 2007. Other management options will be evaluated in 2008. This pest must be managed in order for this crop to be considered viable. The damage from potato leaf hopper causes servere damage and renders the chipilin unmarketable. Taioba yields were estimated to be 10,000 pounds of leaves per acre. The market demand for this crop was very high making it a viable crop for Massachusetts. Since a large percentage of the nitrogen is removed from the plant with each harvest, nitrogen management is a crucial aspect of production. The spring nitrate test was effective in estimating nitrogen needs and will be a valuable tool for farmers to use in the future. A virus was identified on selected leaves by the UMass plant pathologist. This virus will be evaluated in greenhouse and field trials in 2008. Another major focus of work in 2008 will be the implementation of propagation techniques to produce the number of plants needed for field production. 3.. Evaluation of
culturally-appropriate and nutritionally-balanced recipes using corn and maxixe One of the corn recipes evaluated was for pupusas, a traditional dish popular in Central America (Massachusetts has a very large Salvadoran and Guatemalan population). The healthier versions of pupusas reduced saturated fat by 12% from the traditional versions of pupusas that use ayote (squash), lorroco (a traditional flower bud in El Salvador) and spinach. The healthier versions of these recipes reduced saturated fat by over 25% and significantly increased dietary fiber from the most traditional type of pupusas (pupusas with fried pork rinds and cheese). These recipes were promoted at an event at El Buen Gusto on April 20. UMass nutrition educators were invited to learn more about Salvadoran cuisine and dignitaries were invited to try and approve them. A Spanish-language television station, Univision, came to the event and filmed interviews with the restaurant owner and project participants. This segment
was aired on the local Univision affiliate in Boston.
Publications
- Mangan, F. R. Bonanno, A. Welch, S. Nunes and R. Silva. 2007. Evaluation of Organic herbicides for use in Diversified Vegetable Production Systems. UMass Research Farm Field Day Report. 2 pages.
- Mangan, F. M. Moreaira, S. Nunes, A. Welch, R. Silva, and R. Bernatzky. 2007. New crops for ethnic markets. UMass Research Farm Field Day Report. 3 pages.
- Nunes, S, R. Silva, A. Welch, M. Moreira, and F. Mangan. 2007. Maxixe salad. Nutritionally-balanced recipe (English)
- Mangan, F. R. Mendonca, M. Moreira. S. Nunes, F. Finger, Z. Barros, H. Galvao, G. Almeida, and M. Anderson. 2007. Production and marketing of vegetables for the ethnic markets in the United States. Revista Horticultura Brasileira (Horticultural Journal of Brazil)
- Goetz, S.J. K. Brasier, T. Kelsey, W. Whitmer, A. Rangarajan, D. Smith, T. Gabe, D. Kuennen and F. Mangan. 2007. The Small Farms Industry Clusters (SFIC) Project. in Denis Ebodaghe, Editor, Proceedings of the Fourth National Small Farms Conference, USDA, Washington, D.C., 2006, pp. 167-70.
- Mendonca, R., F. Mangan, M. Moreira, A. Criswell, S. Nunes, and W. Autio. 2007. Adaptation of tropical pumpkin cultivars (Curcubita spp.) for production in the Northeastern United States. Proceedings of the InterAmerican Society for Tropical Horticulture. Vol. 50. ISSN-0245-2528. pp 1-6.
- Mendonca, R., F. Mangan, M. Moreira, A. Criswell, S. Nunes, W. Autio, F. Finger, G. Almeida, G. Allen, and T. Brashear. 2007. Evaluation of hard squash varieties for Production in Massachusetts. UMass Veg. Notes. Vol. 18. No. 4. pp 1-4.
- Mangan, F. 2007. Fall Cover Crops. UMass Veg. Notes. Vol. 18. No. 14. pp 2-3.
- Grubinger, V., F. Mangan, and D. Riggs. 2007. Get Ready for Fall Cover Crops. UMass Veg. Notes. Vol. 18. No. 16. pp 2-3.
- Mangan, F., M. Moreira, and R. Mendonca. 2007. New England farmers meet immigrant needs. Communities and Banking. Vol. 18. No. 4. Pages 10-13.
- Nunes, S, R. Silva, A. Welch, M. Moreira, and F. Mangan. 2007. Maxixe salad. Nutritionally-balanced recipe (Portuguese)
- Nunes, S, R. Silva, A. Welch, M. Moreira, and F. Mangan. 2007. Maxixe saute. Nutritionally-balanced recipe (English)
- Nunes, S, R. Silva, A. Welch, M. Moreira, and F. Mangan. 2007. Maxixe saute. Nutritionally-balanced recipe (Portuguese)
- Nunes, S, R. Silva, A. Welch, M. Moreira, and F. Mangan. 2007. Taioba saute. Nutritionally-balanced recipe (English)
- Nunes, S, R. Silva, A. Welch, M. Moreira, and F. Mangan. 2007. Taioba saute. Nutritionally-balanced recipe (Portuguese)
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
A website, www.worldcrops.org, was created in 2003 to provide commercial vegetable farmers in Massachusetts information on how to produce crops that are popular among the large and growing immigrant communities in the region. In fiscal year 2006, information on more crops was loaded onto this website. Information includes pictures of different varieties, production information on the specific crops, and sources of seed. This type of information is critical for the successful adoption of these crops by local growers. Crops added in 2006 include vegetables popular among Brazilians: Abobora moranga (Cucurbita maxima), Corn Zea mays, hybrid pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima X C. moschata). Also added and updated were crops popular among Salvadorans and other Central Americans: Pipian (Cucurbita mixta), chipilin (Crotalaria longirostrata), and ayote tierno (Cucurbita moschata). Also a crop popular among Asians and Latinos was added: kabocha (Cucurbita maxima). Much of the
information added to this site came from the results of research implemented on these crops at the UMass Research Farm in Deerfield Massachusetts. A second project was to use individual interviews and focus groups with food stamp recipients of the Portuguese-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities in New Bedford with the goal to learn how to provide these communities with culturally appropriate nutrition education. The overwhelming majority of those interviewed do their primary shopping at a supermarket in South New Bedford called PriceRight. This is popular due to its low prices of both fresh produce and canned frozen goods. It also has more ethnic items than the other major supermarkets in the area. All those interviewed that receive WIC coupons go to the farmers' markets in New Bedford on a regular basis. The most frequented farmers' market located at Clasky Park. An extensive publicity campaign was implemented to publicize an event at the Clasky?s farmers' market on August 19.
Promotional materials were produced in English, Spanish and Portuguese and distributed throughout the communities. Advertisements and articles in ethnic media outlets were also produced. Four nutritionally balanced recipes using traditional fresh vegetables popular among Guatemalans, Salvadorans and Brazilians cuisines were created: Taioba saute - available in English and Portuguese; maxixe salad - available in English and Portuguese, Salvadoran Minestrone Soup - available in English and Spanish, and Pipian Stir-fry - available in English and Spanish. Surveys were implemented of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking peoples at the event. 69 percent of the Latinos interviewed only spoke Spanish and 100% of the Brazilians interviewed spoke Portuguese. This emphasized the importance of providing information in these languages.
Impacts
Six new crops were added to worldcrops.org. Hundreds of farmers and agricultural professionals gained access to this information on the webpage. This website also generated individual calls and emails to follow-up to get more information. The implementation of interviews and focus groups with low-income Spanish and Portuguese-speaking members of the low-income communities in New Bedford led to the establishment of valuable information that can be used to implement culturally appropriate nutrition education with these groups.
Publications
- Mendonca, Raquel U. de, F. Mangan, A. Criswell. 2006. Sustainable Production for Abobora moranga (Cucurbita moschata). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2006. Sustainable Production for corn (Zea mays). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mendonca, Raquel U. de, F. Mangan, A. Criswell. 2006. Sustainable Production for hibrid pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima X C. moschata). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Criswell, A and F. Mangan. 2006. Sustainable Production for kabocha (Cucurbita maxima). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2006. Sustainable Production for Chipilin (Crotalaria longirostrata). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2006. Sustainable Production for Pipian (Cucurbita mixta). Article for www.worldcrops.org
- Mangan, F. 2006. Sustainable Production for loroco (Fernaldia pandurata). Article for www.worldcrops.org
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
A website, www.worldcrops.org, was created in 2003 to provide commercial vegetable farmers in Massachusetts information on how to produce crops that are popular among the large and growing immigrant communities in the region. In fiscal year 2005, information on more crops was loaded onto this website. Information includes pictures of different varieties, production information on the specific crops, and sources of seed. This type of information is critical for the successful adoption of these crops by local growers. Crops added in 2005 include vegetables popular among Costa Ricans, ayote tierno (Cucurbita moschata), beets (Beta vulgaris); crops popular among Brazilians: taioba (Xanthosoma sagittifolium), malagueta pepper (Capsicum frutescens), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea); and crops popular among Salvadorans, Loroco Fernaldia pandurata, Pipian Cucurbita mixta, and corn (Zea mays). A second project was to survey food stamp recipients of the Portuguese-speaking
community in Eastern Massachusetts with the goal to learn how to provide these communities with nutrition education. A baseline survey was administered to food stamp recipients from March to July of 2005. Eighty-five food stamp recipients were surveyed (33 Portuguese, 25 Cape Verdean, 16 Brazilian; 11 were not used due to incomplete data). Two issues of Nutrition Notes to Go were mailed to all survey recipients in late July/early August of 2005. Nutrition education demonstrations were held at two MAPS locations for food stamp recipients. One was held in Cambridge MA with 20 food stamp recipients and the second was held in Dorchester (a neighborhood of Boston) with 10 food stamp recipients. The nutrition education implemented included the promotion of the vegetables listed in the baseline survey. These vegetables were promoted by recipes, stating the availability at farmers markets, and the use in the nutrition education demonstrations.
Impacts
Eleven new crops were added to this webpage. Hundreds of farmers and agricultural professionals gained access to this information on the webpage. This website also generated individual calls and emails to follow-up to get more information. The implementation of the survey led to valuable information that can be used to implement nutrition education with Portuguese-speaking food stamp recipients. One hundred percent of the Portuguese and Brazilian food stamp recipients preferred to take the survey in Portuguese. Less than 5% of the three target populations speak English at home. This suggests the importance of implementing nutrition education in Portuguese with Portuguese and Brazilian food stamp recipients. Cape Verdean Creole was the most common language preferred by the Cape Verdean population, followed by English and then Portuguese. Over 95% of the Cape Verdean population speaks Cape Verdean Creole at home. Forty percent of the Portuguese population and 10% of the
Cape Verdean population surveyed do not read any language. Less than 25% of all three populations read English.
Publications
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for ayote tierno (Cucurbita moschata). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for taioba (Xanthosoma sagittifolium). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for malagueta pepper (Capsicum frutescens). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for Malabar spinach (Basella alba). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for cauliflower (Brassica oleracea). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for beets (Beta vulgaris). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica). Article for www.worldcrops.org
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for corn (Zea mays). Article for www.worldcrops.org
- Mangan, F. 2005. Sustainable Production for loroco (Fernaldia pandurata). Article for www.worldcrops.org
- Mangan, F. 2005. Sustainable Production for Pipian (Cucurbita mixta) Article for www.worldcrops.org
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
A focus of this project in 2003/2004 was the launching of a web site with production information on crops popular with the growing ethnic populations in the Northeastern United States. This information is available at www.worldcrops.org. The immigrant population has increased tremendously in recent years. This growing population diversity, combined with the increased interest their presence has generated from more traditional restaurant and supermarket buyers previously unfamiliar with the new offerings, is an opportunity for local growers to expand and re-direct their crop production. This site provides information on agricultural crops that are popular among ethnic groups living in this region and can be grown in the Northeastern United States. The crop information at www.worldcrops.org is organized according to the countries where they are popular. One reason for this organizational structure is that many ethnic groups are concentrated in one area or neighborhood.
For example, in Holyoke, a city in western Massachusetts, more than 75% of the customers at the farmers' market are Puerto Rican. In this case, a grower who sells at this market would want to investigate the crops listed under Puerto Rico in www.worldcrops.org. For example, if a grower wants to sell to a market popular among Puerto Ricans, this grower can go to www.wroldcrops.org and click on Americas. Then click on Puerto Rico and a page will appear with a map of Puerto Rico and a very brief description of the country. On the right-hand side is a list of crops that are popular in Puerto Rico. Currently these crops are listed: aji dulce, calabaza, cilantro, cilantro, eggplant, verdolaga. When you click on a crop you will be brought to a fact sheet with all the information a commercial grower needs to know to grow the crop. This includes pictures of the crops, how it is used, and seed sources. For specific production information, such as pest management and cultural practices, a link
is provided to the New England Vegetable Management Guide for those crops listed on the website that are produced in a similar manner to traditional crops we grow in New England. For example, since aji dulce is a pepper, all the production practices and pest management practices are listed under peppers in the Guide. For crops that are not similar to other crops we grow here, like culantro, detailed production information is provided on the website. Currently, this site has crops popular in 11 countries in the Americas, 4 countries in Asia, 2 in Europe, and 1 in Africa. The number of crops and counties on this webpage will continue to increase.
Impacts
The created website provides commercial growers with specific production and marketing information on ethnic crops. This information will allow commercial growers to expand the number of crops they grow, thus diversifying their production, and gain access to new markets represented by the tremendous growth of immigrant groups in the state and region.
Publications
- Mangan, F. and T. Bunnell. 2004. www.worldcrops.org. A new website with crop production information for the growing populations in the Northeastern United States. Vegetable Notes. Vol. 15 (1). pp 3, 4.
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for jilo (Solanum gilo). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for maxixe (Cumus anguria). Article for www.worldcrops.org.
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). Article for www.worldcrops.org
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for Brazilian pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.). Article for www.worldcrops.org
- Mangan, F. 2004. Sustainable Production for fava beans (Vicia fava). Article for www.worldcrops.org
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
During the previous year work relevant to this proposal focused on crops that are popular among the Portuguese-speaking populations in Massachusetts. The Portuguese language and the culture of Portuguese-speaking peoples have a long and influential history in Massachusetts. This started with the arrival of Portuguese, mostly from the Azores, and continued with Cape Verdeans, and most recently there has been a tremendous influx of Brazilians. Work focused on the Brazilian population since they are a more recent immigrant group, there has been less assimilation meaning they have more interest in agricultural products that are part of their cuisine. A marketing analysis of Brazilian markets in 2002 documented several agricultural products that are popular in the Brazilian cuisine that can be produced in Massachusetts. These included vegetable crops such as jilo, maxixi, collard greens, among several others. Examples of possessed products are pamonha, a popular dessert
that is made from corn, and queijo fresco (fresh cheese). During the field season of 2003, researchers at the University of Massachusetts worked with commercial farmers to produce and market agricultural products to Brazilians in Massachusetts. Seed for identified crops was obtained from a commercial seed company in Brazil and given to commercial farmers in Massachusetts to produce on their farms. As part of this work, surveys were implemented to get more information about the Brazilian population in Massachusetts and the popularity of selected products. Results showed that a large percentage of the Brazilians surveyed are from the state of Minas Gerais, emphasizing the importance of agricultural products popular in that region of Brazil (e.g. jilo and queijo fresco). A publicity campaign on the availability of the products produced by local farmers was implemented in Portuguese media, including advertisements in local Brazilian newspapers, interviews conducted for a Portuguese cable
station and newspapers, and flyers distributed in Brazilian communities. In addition, UMass Nutrition Educators researched, tested and developed nutritionally balanced recipes using the target crops at selected markets. Recipes were made available in appropriate both English and Portuguese.
Impacts
This work has underscored the strong Brazilian market in Massachusetts for locally-produced agricultural products. Due to this effort, many farmers are interested in producing products for this growing market next season.Over 350 commercial farmers in Massachusetts were made aware of this research through individual contacts and Extension publications and presentations. Over 500 farmers and agricultural professionals outside of Massachusetts were made aware of this research through Extension and professional articles and presentations. Over 10,000 consumers in Massachusetts, mostly Portuguese-speaking, were reached through advertisements and a cable show.
Publications
- Mangan, F., M. Moreira, and T Martuscelli. 2003. Producao e comercializacao de sementes a populacao de falantes de portugues em Massachusetts. UMass Extension Fact Sheet. VEG03-01-P. 4 pages.
- Mangan, F., M. Moreira, and T Martuscelli. 2003. Production and Marketing of Crops to the Portuguese-Speaking Peoples in Massachusetts. VEG03-01-P
- Mangan, F. and T. Martuscelli. 2003. Translations of fruits and vegetables sold at farmers markets. UMass Extension fact sheet. www.umassvegetable.org. 1 page
- Mangan, F. and T. Martuscelli. 2003. Growing jilo in your garden or patio. UMass Extension fact sheet. www.umassvegetable.org 2 pages
- Mangan, F. and T. Martuscelli. 2003. Cultivando jilo no seu jardim o patio. UMass Extension fact sheet (In Portuguese). www.umassvegetable.org. 2 pages
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