Source: N Y AGRICULTURAL EXPT STATION submitted to
DEVELOPING AN EASTERN BROCCOLI INDUSTRY
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0222246
Grant No.
2010-51181-21062
Project No.
NYG-632582
Proposal No.
2010-01108
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
SCRI
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2010
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2015
Grant Year
2010
Project Director
Bjorkman, T.
Recipient Organization
N Y AGRICULTURAL EXPT STATION
(N/A)
GENEVA,NY 14456
Performing Department
Geneva - Horticultural Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Broccoli has recently become a major specialty crop worth nearly a billion dollars a year. Its growing popularity improves the health and nutrition in American diets. Despite high consumption in the East, little is produced in this region. Both high transportation costs and interest in locally-grown food has created demand for eastern broccoli production. Unfortunately, current cultivars do not produce a consistently marketable product under eastern growing conditions; however, public breeders have recently succeeded in developing locally-adapted material. Our vision is to create a regional food network for this increasingly important and nutritious vegetable that may serve as a model network for other specialty crops. By coordinating the escalation of broccoli production in the East, this project will hasten the appearance of a year-round, consistent supply that is necessary for sustainability of the industry. Our assembled team of breeders, production specialists, and market developers have the breeding stocks, expertise and market presence to develop a substantial eastern broccoli industry in 5-10 years. Our team includes leading industry partners throughout. We will provide a complete solution to the problem by addressing each of the six barriers to success: improved germplasm, regional testing of experimental varieties, cultivar release, production of hybrid seed, extension to new broccoli growers, establishment of a distribution-retail system. This project will benefit society by raising the availability of local food, providing economic development in depressed areas on the East Coast, reducing energy consumption for transportation and irrigation water-use for crop production.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2041440108040%
2051440108020%
2051440301010%
6046230301010%
7011440108010%
7126230301010%
Knowledge Area
712 - Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins; 204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 701 - Nutrient Composition of Food; 205 - Plant Management Systems; 604 - Marketing and Distribution Practices;

Subject Of Investigation
1440 - Cole crops; 6230 - Marketing systems and sectors thereof;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics; 3010 - Economics;
Goals / Objectives
1. Develop germplasm suited to eastern conditions; Generate 50 to 85 hybrids each year from public breeding programs to be tested in Phase I trials of Obj. 2. 2. Establish regional testing sites to identify the most promising current and new hybrids for Eastern growers. Through a three-phase testing program, identify germplasm for release as commercial varieties that will perform well over a 12-month Eastern production season and have good nutritional qualities. 3. Produce sufficient seed supplies for these new hybrids for commercial production; develop methods for efficient production of selected hybrids, produce enough seed to meet project broccoli production goals. 4. Release and market new hybrid varieties that allow the production of quality broccoli with expanded regional harvest windows. The goal is at least one variety per seed company. 5. Identify, train, and support growers to create regional production networks capable of supplying broccoli year-round in the East; 6. Establish a supply chain and retail acceptance of Eastern broccoli. Distributors develop relationships with grower networks and with customers throughout the east coast. Analyze the distribution chain and customer acceptance of eastern product.
Project Methods
Objective 1, Germplasm development. Public and private breeders will develop broccoli germplasm targeted to East Coast growing regions. The three public programs, in Charleston, SC (USDA-ARS), Geneva, NY (Cornell), and Corvallis, Oregon (Oregon State Univ.), will use their existing germplasm proven to tolerate eastern conditions. The three private breeders, Bejo, Syngenta and Seminis,will also breed for this project based on their germplasm and any licenced from the public programs. Objective 2, Regional Testing. Phase I trials will screen 50 to 85 hybrid entries at two planting times at each of four sites. Hybrids generated in Obj. 1 will be incorporated as they become available to comprise a majority of the entries. Phase II trials will consist of 20 of the best entries from Phase I, sown at five planting dates during the target season in each of four regional sites, with four replications of 10 plants. Quality and performance will be evaluated, including health attributes from glucosinolates, antioxidants, and minerals. In Phase III trials, growers will raise and evaluate three new hybrids targeted to their production region in anticipation of recommendation for release and use in later objectives. Objective 3, Seed production. Seed companies will develop proprietary hybrid-seed production methods for their own varieties. Objective 4, Variety release. Promising hybrids will be named and released, with the associated licensing and marketing agreements put in place. Objective 5, Extension. Project staff will oversee the development of five eastern growing regions (Northern Maine, Western New York, Appalachian Virginia and North Carolina, South Carolina/Georgia, and Northern Florida) that together can produce a year-round supply of fresh broccoli. Existing pockets of broccoli production will be the nucleus of the networks. First, regional grower networks will be organized. Existing production guidelines will be updated and customized for the target regions, updated with the new variety information. Then extension programming focused specifically on broccoli will educate growers about production practices and to qualify for GAP food safety certification. Initial growers will test produce small acreage of the most promising varieties identified in Obj. 2. Then they will produce increasing acreage in subsequent years, with additional growers recruited and trained as required. This objective will produce enough product for Obj. 6. Objective 6, distribution and marketing. Develop crop budgets to identify efficiencies and competitive advantages that will allow eastern broccoli to be profitable in the current marketplace. Identify cost-effective distribution structures to bring the new product from the farm gate to the retail store, and test these with current distribution partners. Identify product attributes driving purchase decisions of supermarket produce buyers and end consumers, including local, carbon footprint and appearance. Test marketing will involve initial small volume production from two regions to one supermarket chain, small volume year-round production, then medium-volume year-round production distributed to multiple buyers.

Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Broccoli growers are the target audience for new website information on Good Agricultural Practices; Greenpak28, due for release by Syngenta Seeds this fall; Phase III production trials that they hosted or visited; broccoli production and post-harvest videos produced by the NC Extension team; and several field days, workshops, and presentations at grower expos. Ultimately, they will also benefit from insights gleaned from the economic studies of produce buyer behavior, the optimal infrastructure and market efficiency models. Long Island growers in particular were the target audience of a survey to discover barriers to broccoli production on the island. The survey was conducted by Cornell undergraduate intern (Nick Karavolias), under the guidance of PD Thomas Bjorkman and Extension Specialist Sandy Menasha. All stakeholders and research team members were kept up-to-date with happenings throughout the project via quarterly/seasonal updates, annual reports, and a grant renewal planning meeting in September 2014. Seed companies received updates on breeding and trial progress through data summaries and biweekly reports during the growing season. Some representatives visited trial sites with breeders or extension leaders to make direct observations of hybrid quality. Two companies received select broccoli lines shared by public programs for breeding research purposes. Breeding programs (both public and private) were target audiences for summarized results of 2014 Phase I and II reports and the 2014 nutrient analysis. A winter webinar introduced the Eastern Broccoli Extension group to the revised Phase III protocol. Eastern consumers are the ultimate target of broccoli produced by eastern growers. Agricultural scientists and economists were the target audiences of project-related published papers and several presentations at scientific and professional meetings. Other groups working on broccoli (Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, other NC Extension agents, and organic growers running participatory broccoli trial) received training in broccoli evaluation by project team members. Tours of Phase I and II plots demonstrated the potential for quality eastern broccoli to seed company representatives, potential buyers, and non-partnering extension and government leaders. Visits with local grower groups offered NY Extension personnel the opportunity to share information about and gage grower interest in food hubs. The SCRI review panel was the target of our proposal to secure the funding required to bring this effort to fruition. Changes/Problems:Suzanne Slack was hired by Virginia Cooperative Extension in Carrol County. She replaced Wythe Morris on the project following his retirement. He provided excellent assistance in helping train her. Brian Shaw of Clemson Cooperative Extension began taking on grower relations and on-farm trials conducted by Powell Smith. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Cornell undergraduate Nicholas Karaviolas surveyed Long Island vegetable growers to identify the barriers to expanding broccoli production there as part of a summer internship with Thomas Bjokrkman and Long Island Extension specialist Sandy Menasha. The experience reinforced his intention to major in Agricultural Sciences. Sandra Pelc, post doc with Mark Farnham, received additional training and experience with genomics; Zach Stansell, technician with Mark Farnham, continued pollination and trial work and also developed a weighted broccoli evaluation index; he is now a PhD student in Horticulture at Cornell. Xiaoli Fan, PhD student with Miguel Gomez, learned to study of efficiency in the eastern broccoli market, willingness-to-pay experiments comparing California and eastern broccoli, and a model to determine optimal locations and types of cooling facilities for eastern broccoli. Phil Coles, MS student with Miguel Gomez, learned to develop, conduct, and report on a supermarket buyer survey to assess buyer views on local/eastern broccoli as part of his MS degree with Miguel Gomez. University of Tennesee undergraduates with Carl Sams, (Hunter Hammock, Evan Baird, Dylan Galloway, Kara Cabbage, Andrew Morris, Sami Bhidya, and Kim Whitlock) learned sample preparation and general analytical lab techniques, and gained experience with microwave digestion, freeze dryers, weighing (balances) , sample dilutions and calculations, Excel spread sheet data entry, simple statistical methods, HPLC, GC and ICPMS. Virginia Extension educator Suzanne Slack was trained by Wythe Morris in broccoli production and evaluation using our regional trial protocol. Two new research assistants with Jeanine Davis at NCSU (Reuben Travis and Leonora Stefanile) received training in broccoli production, harvest, marketability evaluation and postharvest handling. A third new research assistant, Julie Doll, received training in basic broccoli production (transplant, irrigation, weeding) and holding time evaluation. NC Cooperative Extension Agent Craig Mauney assisted with Phase III trials and gained experience with and better understanding of new broccoli varieties and their production, cultivation, and harvest. Three Henderson County growers (Jason Davis of North River Farms, Tom Arany of Fletcher Creek Farm, and Randy Edmundson of Edmundson Produce Farm) grew, harvested, and marketed new broccoli varieties as hosts of Phase III trials with guidance from Jeanine Davis and Margaret Bloomquist. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?North Carolina growers and others learned about the broccoli project at several educational events, including a Winter Vegetable Conference with 200 attendees; Foothills Farm School Specialty Crops, with 70 attendees); Mountain Horticultural Crops REC field day, with 200 attendees; and the Alternative Crops and Organic Research Highlight Tour 2015, which had 70 attendees, including Extension Specialists, State Marketing and Agronomy Specialists, an Environmental Educator, the director of the Inter-tribal Center for Social Change, the Hendersonville District Conservationist, the Madison County Commissioner, a Congressional representative, several researchers, growers, and college/graduate students, industry reps, 27 students and 2 teachers from Cherokee High School, and other interested residents What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project blog, twitter feed, and website targeted growers, stakeholders, other interested industry and government personnel, and the general public. Annual, quarterly, and biweekly growing season reports kept team members and stakeholders up-to-date with ongoing activities. Trial reports were shared with team members and seed company partners. Outreach efforts such as Cornell's "Furrows to boroughs" event in New York City raised consumer awareness of the flavor and quality of locally grown broccoli. Project personnel regularly presented updates and results at grower, scientific, and professional meetings. Several field days and workshops were held for growers. Direct contact with grower groups and state departments of agriculture was employed to present the project and search for potential collaborative ventures (e.g., aggregations sites and cooling infrastructure). A student intern kept a blog on his work to explore barriers to broccoli production on Long Island.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? This project has substantially improved the adaptation of broccoli germplasm for production in the here-to-fore unsuitable climate of the eastern US. Several varieties have been released, and the acreage is growing. Economic analysis laid the groundwork for sustainable and profitable expansion to year-round production to meet buyer expectations. 1. Develop germplasm suited to eastern conditions. Activities. Public broccoli breeders Farnham, Griffiths and Myers selected promising lines, made hundreds of crosses with these lines, and generated seed for parental lines, testcrosses, and new hybrids. Testcross hybrids were screened for adaptation and the best were put into the regional testing system. A crown-quality evaluation protocol was developed. Parental lines were made male-sterile to facilitate hybrid-seed production. Seed of Myers's eastern-adapted organic, broccoli was released to 5 seed companies. Two seed companies made joint public-private hybrids. Seed company partners developed new hybrids using their own lines. Results. Breeding programs created 136 new hybrids (62 from public programs, 74 from private seed company programs) for evaluation in the regional testing system. Forty-six of these (24 public, 22 private) advanced to Phase II. Public Phase I entries included 22 hybrids that resulted from interprogram line exchanges; 12 of these advanced to Phase II. Joint public-private hybrids with one seed company partner were screened in private trials in summer 2015; results were very promising. Joint hybrids with a second seed company partner appeared in 2015 Phase I trials. Outcomes. New public and private hybrids produce commercial quality under eastern growing conditions. Collaboration and improved communication between public and private breeding programs. Use of public lines by commercial seed companies. Previously rare interprogram crosses produced some of the best hybrids. Evaluation tools are used in future broccoli work. 2. Establish regional testing sites to determine the most promising current and new hybrids for Eastern growers. Activities. A three-phase testing program was conducted though a new multisite network for standardized, blind evaluations of broccoli hybrids' adaptation to diverse eastern environments. Phase I evaluated new hybrids; Phase II evaluated broad adaptation and nutrition of the best hybrids, and Phase III evaluated yield and marketability of selected precommercial hybrids. Data. Phase I and II trials scored 12 attributes of crown quality. Phase I had 134 new hybrids, 27 current commercial cultivars, and 6 commercial checks were evaluated in Phase I. Phase II had 59 hybrids, comprising 45 new hybrids, 9 commercial cultivars, and 5 commercial standards, advanced to Phase II evaluations. Nutritional analysis provided data on glucosinolate, carotenoid, and mineral contents. Phase III had nine commercial varieties and two public hybrids released since the start of this project. Results. Regional trial results informed breeders' design of new crosses, and selection of hybrids for advancement. Genotype and environment contributions were determined for each measured trait. Phase III trials informed marketing and adoption decisions, and exposed growers to better varieties. Most nutrient variation is attributable to environmental conditions. Outcomes. Several new hybrids are candidates for commercial release in the next 3 to 5 years, pending project continuation. The trial network provided consistent, high quality characterization of broccoli adaptation and commercial potential. Recommended-cultivars lists were improved. Other research groups adopted the evaluation protocol. 3. Produce sufficient seed supplies for these new hybrids for commercial production. Activities. Hybrid seed for testcrosses and trial entries were generated by hand-pollination. Small cage increases using CMS female plants and insect pollinators produced seed for larger trials. Seed companies used proprietary methods to produce commercial seed. Results. Hybrid seed production by public and private breeding programs met the needs of the Regional Testing System. The seed company increases produced seed for yield trials and test marketing. Some hybrids need optimization. Impacts/Outcomes. Public programs developed methods to generate sufficient hybrid seed and begin scale-up for public hybrids. Public breeding programs characterized the combining ability of their parental lines. Private hybrids or test marketed. 4. Release and market new hybrid varieties that expand regional harvest windows. Results. Seed companies released 5 new cultivars. A new hybrid entirely from this project will be released for 2016. Better hybrids will be released in the next 3 to 5 years if funding is provided. Impacts. Phase III trials demonstrated newer hybrids to eastern growers, who now have access to somewhat better cultivars than they did previously. The good rapport between public and private breeding programs will facilitate commercialization of public investment. 5. Identify, train, and support growers to create regional production networks capable of supplying broccoli year-round in the East. Activities. The extension team included Hutton, ME; Hoepting, NY; Morris, Morse, and Slack, VA; Davis, NC; Ward and Smith, SC; and Zotarelli and Ozores-Hampton, FL. A project website, blog, and twitter feed were established. Multi-year production optimization trials were conducted. Project results were presented on many occasions and to diverse audiences. Regional production recommendations were updated based on trial results. Results. Cultivar and fertility recommendations, project reports, Good Agricultural Practices, and economic information were posted on the website. Extensive national media attention engaged more partners. Higher-than-traditional plant populations raised broccoli yield and quality. Nine of 11 new growers from 2012 had success with broccoli production. Extension personnel gave 40 presentations at grower meetings, 20 at scientific meetings, many GAPs trainings, and several at university-sponsored events. Impacts. Growers gained experience producing newer broccoli cultivars and learned to increase yields with appropriate populations. Several growers expanded broccoli production based on their experience in project trials. A cooperating grower is becoming a food hub with project support. Eastern broccoli production increased by 3,500 acres between 2007 and 2012. 6. Establish a supply chain and retail acceptance of Eastern Broccoli. Activities. Crop budgets were produced for five eastern growing regions and California. Models for transshipment and optimal postharvest infrastructure were constructed. A market-integration study assessed pricing power in US broccoli distribution. Willingness-to-pay experiments generated information on consumer acceptance of local broccoli. A supermarket buyer survey assessed buyer attitudes towards locall broccoli. Results. Crop budgets showed that broccoli production costs in the East are competitive with California, thus post-harvest costs are key to profitability. An eastern broccoli industry will not raise prices to consumers, and will reduce supply chain costs and food miles. Eastern broccoli markets are more efficient when there is regional competition due to eastern production, as happens in the summer and fall. Optimal site and technology of post-harvest facilities were determined for a 6-county region in western NY. Most retailers view the local label as a positive marketing tool, and they prefer buying local broccoli but not at a premium. Impacts. Growers can use crop budgets to determine whether broccoli will be profitable. Local production does not increase supply chain costs for broccoli and other vegetables. Targeting new cultivars to winter and spring growing seasons will improve market efficiency. Growers know that local provides market access but the same quality standard and price.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bjorkman, T. 2015. Examples in Consistency: The Eastern Broccoli Project. Presentation at the 2015 Becker Forum (From NY Farms to NY Plates: Institutional Purchasing across NYS), Empire State Producers Expo, 19 January 2015. Available online at http://www.hort.cornell.edu/expo/proceedings/2015/becker-forum/Examples%20in%20consistency%20-%20the%20Eastern%20broccoli%20project.pdf
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Fan, X., and M. Gomez. 2015. Are Consumers Willing to Pay Price Premiums for Newly Developed East Coast Broccoli Varieties? An Experiment Study. Selected Paper Presentation at the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association/Canadian Agricultural Economics Society Joint Annual Meeting, Newport, RI, 30 June.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bjorkman, T., M. Ozores-Hampton, L. Zotarelli, M. Hutton, J. Davis, R. Morse, C. Hoepting, P. Smith, W. Morris. 2015. Commercial Performance of Broccoli Varieties Selected for a New Climate. Poster Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science, New Orleans, LA. 5 August 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Sams, C., M. Penfield, D. Kopsell, M. Gomez, T. Bjorkman, M. Farnham. 2015. Evaluation of Consumer Acceptance of West Coast versus East Coast-produced Broccoli through Sensory Analysis of Quality Rating Factors and Nutritionally Important Metabolites. Poster Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science, New Orleans, LA. 4 August 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Stansell, Z., M. Farnham, S. Pelc, D. Couillard, T. Bjorkman. 2015. Using Weighted Trait Indices to Select the Best-performing Broccoli Hybrids in Multi-site and Multi-year Trials.Poster Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science, New Orleans, LA. 6August 2015.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Duclos, D.V. and T. Bjorkman. 2015. Gibberellin Control of Reproductive Transitions in Brassica oleracea Curd Development. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 140:5767.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Ward, B., P. Smith, S. James, Z. Stansell, and M. Farnham. 2015. Increasing Plant Density in Eastern United States Broccoli Production Systems to Maximize Marketable Head Yields. HortTechnology 25: 330-334.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bellinder, R. and C. Hoepting. 2015. Herbicide update: crop safety of adjuvants and insecticides preceding Goaltender and pipeline products. Empire State Producers Expo, 20 January 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bjorkman, T., M. Gomez, P. Griffiths, and C. Hoepting. 2015. Eastern Broccoli Project update: Gearing up to ramp up production in New York. Poster presentation at the Empire State Producers Expo, Syracuse, NY, 20-22 January.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bjorkman, T. and Tyler Kord. 2014. Collaboration to produce broccoli tacos for the Cornell Alumni Furrows to boroughs: A Taste of New York State in New York City event on 22 October 2014
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bellinder, R. and C. Hoepting. 2014. Evaluating the Safety of Using Adjuvants with Insecticides Prior to Post-Emergence Use of Goaltender in Broccoli. Cabbage Research and Development Program reporting meeting, 10 December 2014, Geneva, NY.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Myers, J. 2014. Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Coles, Philip S. 2015. Consumer and buyer acceptance of East Coast broccoli strains. MS Thesis, Cornell University
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Barriers to Expansion of Long Island Broccoli Production. Blog of Cornell undergraduate and 2015 summer intern Nick Karavolias. Online at http://blogs.cornell.edu/ccesummerinterns2015/category/barriers/ .
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: easternbroccoli.org. New Materials GAPs (Good Agricultural practices) resources for broccoli producers.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bloomquist, M. 2015. Broccoli as a new crop in North Carolina. Presentation at the Henderson County Winter Vegetable School on 5 February.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Davis, J. and M. Bloomquist. 2015. Eastern Broccoli Project Booth. 2015 Winter Vegetable School & 47th Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Tomato Growers Meeting in Asheville, NC. 25 February.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Farnham, M. 2014. Update on the East Coast Broccoli Project. Southeastern Fruit and Vegetable Expo, Myrtle Beach, SC, 3 December 2014
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Hutton, M. 2015 Broccoli trial presentation. Maine Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Association Annual Meeting, 14 January 2015.


Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Eastern growers from several communities were a target audience of project efforts for the year. Phase III trials served as both an experiential learning opportunity and more generally for demonstrating how the newest broccoli varieties compare with an older standard. Eastern growers in general were the target of presentations at grower meetings (on topics such as optimal plant populations) and webpage additions related to broccoli production. Through direct conversations, Extension personnel advised broccoli producers on topics that included variety choices and cooling options. Underserved growers in Charleston County, SC, were the target audience of broccoli production advice and transplants from Mark Farnham. This group, which includes members of the Gullah community, hopes to supply local schools with fresh, crown cut broccoli. Although this project focuses mainly on conventional broccoli production, organic growers have also benefitted from the expertise of project personnel. Eastern organic growers in North Carolina received advice on broccoli production through workshops and field days held by Jeanine Davis and her assistants. The organic community was the target of a published presentation on the status of cytoplasmic male sterility in Brassicas by Jim Myers. Also, producers of organic seed were recipients of seed for the NOVICs Eastern Organic population developed by Jim Myers and increased by Thomas Bjorkman. These companies plan to develop the population and ultimately sell it to organic growers in the eastern U.S. Project stakeholders, the research team, and our Advisory Board were the targets of the project’s Annual Report and phone conferences to discuss project progress and address questions. The research team was also the target of quarterly reports intended to keep everyone informed on activities and progress of all aspects of the project. Since much effort has gone into developing broccoli hybrids for the East Coast, our seed company partners were the audience for a number of other communications, including biweekly trial updates, Phase I, II and III reports, a nutritional data summary, invitations to visit trial sites and meet with plant breeders, and invitations to work collaboratively on line development efforts. Public broccoli breeders also received the updates and reports. Extension collaborators were the audience for a Phase III planning phone conference. Two new collaborators in Florida, Lincoln Zotarelli and Monica Ozores-Hampton, received targeted training on Phase III via another phone conference, direct conversations, and written protocols. Extension personnel not officially associated with this project also received targeted training on project protocols when they assisted with trial evaluations. Supply chain researchers and policy makers were the audience for a paper published in Food Policy and presentations on market integration of the broccoli supply and the value of local to consumers. Researchers in agricultural, horticulture, plant breeding, and related fields were a target audience of numerous presentations and publications concerning broccoli breeding and variety development, evaluation of qualitative traits, the value of locally produced broccoli, and optimal populations for maximizing yields. Produce industry representatives were the target audience of a talk given by PI Thomas Bjorkman and PD Miguel Gomez at the NY Produce show. The general public is the target of project-related articles in the popular press and the project blog. Also, Master Gardeners in South Carolina learned about the Eastern Broccoli Project and specific issues and considerations associated with growing broccoli in the Carolinas from Mark Farnham. Changes/Problems: The government shutdown in October 2013 resulted in the postponement of broccoli tasting experiments at the University of Tennessee from November 2013 (as originally planned) to May 2014; consequently, publications based on willingness-to-pay and sensory data will also be delayed until Year 5. The shutdown also resulted in additional time lost to developing contingency plans, obtaining waivers to access prohibitions, and arranging for alternate staffing. Also, release of data from the 2012 Census of Agriculture, which we are using to benchmark production of broccoli in Eastern regions, was delayed. Holding field days at Phase III sites has not been feasible. Instead, we have more targeted contact with growers during the growing season and broader scale contact (at grower meetings, etc.) off-season. New broccoli varieties developed specifically for this project have not yet been released, mainly because the timeline for new products is longer than the 5-year timeframe of our current support. As a result, Phase III trials have also been limited to the best currently available commercial varieties. We anticipate that new material will begin to enter Phase III trials in 2015. Release of better commercial varieties is also expected to contribute to increased grower interest and broccoli acreage. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? A number of people had opportunities for training or professional development as a result of this project. Undergraduates Two undergraduate students in Biology at the College of Charleston broadened their knowledge of plant science through broccoli pollination and evaluation work with Mark Farnham. Four undergraduates (three Chemistry majors and one Plant Science major) worked with Carl Sams to get analytical lab experience; two were paid and the other two worked 8 hours a week for internship credits and because they wanted the experience. An undergraduate student majoring in agriculture at NC State assisted with plot layouts, plantings, data collection, and nutritional sampling of NC Phase I and II trials; he gained experience with vegetable research and field work, benefitting his academic career and broadening his previous experience with livestock on his family’s farm. Another student from NCSU who is majoring in vegetable production and concentrating in food safety spent his summer internship with Wythe Morris, assisting with Phase III plot layouts and GAP/Food Safety training. Based in part on his experience working with Jim Myers on broccoli seed production and trials, an Oregon State University student plans to attend graduate school with a specialization in plant breeding. Two students working with Phil Griffiths at Cornell gained field experience working on project trials. Grad students While working on supply chain issues with Miguel Gomez, graduate Student Xiaoli Fan developed econometric and software skills that will help her career. Specifically, she worked on developing and coding the optimal location of post-harvest facilities model, preparing and presenting the price analysis paper, conducting broccoli tasting experiments in NY and TN, and analyzing data. The Eastern Broccoli price analysis paper will be a chapter in her PhD dissertation. Graduate student Phil Coles is conducting the supermarket buyer survey as part of his MS research; he also learned about conducting willingness-to-pay experiments when he assisted Xiaoli Fan with tasting experiments at the University of Tennessee. Casey Barickman, who gained experience in analytical techniques and was deeply involved in broccoli nutritional analysis with Carl Sams, completed his PhD at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and is now employed as an Assistant Research/Extension professor at Mississippi State University. Graduate student Jennifer Wheeler Grant worked on the project with Carl Sams to gain analytical experience with HPLC and ICPMS. Three (unpaid) graduate research assistants worked with Jim Myers to gain experience with various aspects of his broccoli program. Two (Kara Yound and Abi Graham) conducted pollinations and helped with trials, while a third (Haidar Akzawee) developed a tissue culture propagation system for broccoli. A graduate student at the University of Maine assisted Mark Hutton with evaluations and data collections for her own training, education, and love of vegetable production. Technical Zachary Stansell has worked full time with Mark Farnham since 2011, gaining experience in conducting field trials and evaluating quantitative traits. He is an integral member of the SC team, and in 2014 was a coauthor on two Eastern Broccoli presentations. Zach recently completed his MS degree in Environmental Studies at the College of Charleston, where he studied (mostly at night and on weekends) for the last four years. He continues to work full time for the project, but is planning to work towards a PhD somewhere, possibly starting next fall. A technician at the University of Tennessee is currently working part-time with Carl Sams to learn lab techniques that will be useful for other projects that employ him. A new technician for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable program developed skills in applied field research that are necessary for her current job by assisting Christy Hoepting with herbicide trial set-up and data entry and Phase III trial harvest and data entry. A research assistant with Jim Myers at OSU learned about aeroponic cloning to implement the system for propagating broccoli cuttings. Professional Several project participants attended the 2014 annual meeting of the annual meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science where, in addition to presenting results of their own Eastern Broccoli-related research, they were able to catch up with recent efforts of other researchers on the project. Lincoln Zotarelli and Monica Ozores-Hampton, new Phase III trial leaders in Florida, learned how to conduct and evaluate Phase III trials through a Fall 2013 phone conference, discussions with project personnel, and written Phase III protocols. Broccoli growers hosting Phase III trials learned first hand about how new broccoli varieties perform relative to old ones. PD Thomas Bjorkman, along with Agricultural Economics Graduate Students Xiaoli Fan and Phil Coles, increased their knowledge of how Food Hubs operate during a tour of Finger Lakes Fresh Food Hub in Groton, NY. This trip contributed to a growing awareness by project personnel of the role that Food Hubs can play in allowing aggregations of small growers to supply product to large buyers. Post doc Sandra Pelc began work with Mark Farnham this year, assisting with breeding line evaluations to gain experience with broccoli characteristics for GBS (Genome by Sequencing) work that she will be conducting on US Vegetable Lab broccoli. Project Manager Jill Eccleston completed a PostDoc Leadership Development program at Cornell University. Joanna Radford, Consumer and Commercial Horticulture Agent from Surry County, NC, learned Phase III protocols and evaluation methods when she assisted Wythe Morris with data collection at the Phase III trial in Carroll County, VA. Elizabeth Buck, Program Aid for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Program, gained experience in assessing herbicide injury by assisting Christy Hoepting with evaluation of her herbicide trial. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Broccoli growers learn about results from the project through a number of outlets, including presentations at vegetable production meetings, workshops, field days (such as the Empire State Producers Expo, NC organic grower schools, the Carolina Farm Stewardship Sustainable Agriculture conference, the Maine Small fruit and Vegetable Growers meeting, and the Pelion, SC Vegetable Production meeting), website information, and targeted discussions with individual growers. Mark Farnham has worked with Charleston County Extension Agent Zachary Snipes to provide production advice and transplants to a group of historically underserved growers (Gullah and others) that are attempting to grow broccoli along the South Coast of South Carolina from late August until early June, with hopes of supplying local schools with fresh, crown-cut broccoli. Project stakeholders in the seed company, distribution, and retail industries learn about general project activities, results, and outputs via seasonal and annual reports and in conversations with project personnel. They are also invited to an annual phone conference with the entire Eastern Broccoli team to hear a summary of progress and ask questions. The project director holds an annual phone conference with Advisory Board members to get their input on key concerns. Summaries of results of Phase I, II and III trials are distributed to seed companies and trial leaders as soon as they are available. In 2014, representatives from all three seed company stakeholders and another collaborating seed company accepted invitations to visit regional trial sites and two public breeding programs to see firsthand how new hybrids were performing and to discuss breeding program successes, concerns, and collaborations. Biweekly reports issued during the growing season kept seed companies up to date with activities at trial sites. Phase I, II and III 2013 trial results were disseminated in separate reports that were shared with seed companies and trial personnel; a summary of mean glucosinolate, carotenoid, and mineral contents of 2013 Phase II entries was shared with broccoli breeders from public and commercial programs. Presentations at annual professional meetings (such as the American Society for Horticultural Science and the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association) and university seminar series communicate project advances to other scientists studying related topics. Publications from the project are also beginning to appear in journals, such as Food Policy and HortScience. Project members frequently use the popular press to promote work on the project to a wide variety of audiences. In the past year, the broccoli project has been mentioned in articles in several outlets, including the Business Insider, the Cornell magazine periodiCALS, and Scientific American Online (see Press page of easternbroccoli.org). It was also briefly referenced in a New York Times Magazine Article that covered the development of a fictitious broccoli promotional campaign. The project blog also targets a wider audience. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In the next reporting period ­– the final one supported by our current SCRI funding – public and private broccoli breeders will continue efforts to supply seed for new entries to Phase I, II, and III trials, as well as for inbred lines and new testcrosses. Development on new Phase I entries continues based on our intention to apply for renewal of funding; in fact, based on conversations with seed company partners, a record number of Phase I entries are anticipated. Trial personnel will once again evaluate entries to all Phases of the Regional Testing Program. Where possible, Phase III trials will happen earlier in the season in 2014, both to target earlier production windows and to allow completion of the trials in the event of a funding interruption. Nutritional samples will be taken from all entries in 2 plantings of Phase II at each site, then frozen or freeze-dried in preparation for shipment to the University of Tennessee for analysis. We will continue to add production information to the project website and work with growers on broccoli production concerns. We will also be exploring the role that aggregation sites (such as food hubs) could have in connecting groups of smaller growers to larger buyers. The model used to determine the optimal types and locations of postharvest facilities will be expanded, and the supermarket buyer survey will be completed and the results communicated to other objective leaders, growers, and stakeholders. Crop budgets will be updated with current pricing information. Manuscripts based on the market integration paper, willingness to pay experiments, and nutritional analyses will be developed and submitted for publication.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The goal of this effort is to develop a broccoli industry in the Eastern US that can deliver high quality, eastern-grown broccoli to eastern consumers year-round. Currently, most broccoli consumed in the East is produced in California, requiring expensive and environmentally challenging transport to eastern outlets. To increase production in the East, we are developing broccoli varieties suited to stressful growing conditions and providing production and marketing support for eastern broccoli growers. Three seed companies now carry at least one broccoli specifically targeted to Eastern production conditions, and more varieties are in the pipeline. The 2012 Census of Agriculture, which happened just as the initial impacts of this project were being felt, showed a 3000 acre increase in eastern broccoli production; that increase has a market value of $10 to $20 million at the farm gate. This project is increasing access to eastern markets for locally produced broccoli. Producers and marketers can add broccoli at lower risk because we provide them with a clearer understanding of the seasonal and regional variation in the Eastern broccoli market, and the production information that allows them to be competitive at the highest level. Major activities completed Public broccoli programs generated seed (OBJECTIVE 1) for inbred lines, testcrosses and regional trial entries. Two seed companies are using broccoli lines from public programs and continue their own efforts in support of the project. Seed of Jim Myers’ NOVIC Eastern Organic population was distributed to 4 seed companies. Wrapping up 2013 season activities (OBJECTIVE 2), Carl Sams & Dean Kopsell analyzed the nutritional content of samples from 2013 Phase II entries; Thomas Bjorkman assembled a 2013 Phase III trial report; and Phil Griffiths analyzed data from 2013 regional trials and issued reports for Phase I and Phase II. Seed for 2014 trial entries was received by Griffiths, coded, and re-distributed to Phase I and II trial locations. Trial personnel in 4 regions evaluated hybrid entries to Phase I (preliminary screening) trials and Phase II (advanced screening) trials. Samples of 2014 Phase II entries were collected for nutritional analysis. Carl Sams and Miguel Gomez conducted tasting experiments at the University of Tennessee (OBJECTIVES 2 & 6). The Cornell group obtained data for an econometric analysis and the UT group conducted a sensory analysis. A seed company partner had great success with seed increases of new broccoli hybrids (OBJECTIVE 3) and expects to put a record number of entries into 2015 Phase I trials. Another seed company conducted cage increases of seed for 2 public hybrids. Extension Personnel (OBJECTIVE 5) supervised commercial style, on-farm Phase III trials in ME, NY, VA, NC, SC, and FL and shared information and results at meetings, workshops, and in targeted discussions. Population trials were conducted in NY and SC, and an herbicide trial was conducted in western NY. An updated recommended variety list, additional GAPs resources, links to Eastern Broccoli crop budgets and a page with historic broccoli prices were added to the website. A transshipment model (OBJECTIVE 6) was published in the journal Food Policy. USDA AMS data was used to model market integration of broccoli consumption regions with the California broccoli market; results were presented at the Agricultural & Applied Economics meeting. The supermarket-buyer survey was tested on real buyers and further refined.. A linear programming model was developed to determine optimal locations of postharvest facilities, optimal cooling technology for each location, and optimal flows of products. The model uses acreage data extracted from satellite cropland images and solves the optimal location problem in NY. Refinements to crop budgets produced at the beginning of this project are in progress. Specific objectives met OBJECTIVE 1 for 2014 was met. 2014 Phase I trials included 16 new public hybrids, 17 new seed company hybrids, and 6 checks; 2014 Phase II trials included 9 public entries, 6 seed company entries, and 5 checks. Phase I and II trials were conducted in ME, NY, NC, and SC, and Phase III trials ran at 11 sites from ME to FL, fulfilling OBJECTIVE 2. Commercial seed production efforts (OBJECTIVE 3) are proprietary, but all 3 partnering companies supplied seed for new entries to Phase I, promoted entries for Phase II, and newer commercial hybrids for Phase III. One company reports that a hybrid advanced to Phase II stood out in company trials and appears to have some heat resistance, making it a good candidate for commercial release (OBJECTIVE 4) pending 2014 results. All seed company partners remain committed to breeding varieties for eastern growers. Extension personnel continued outreach activities (OBJECTIVE 5) and worked with 10 growers on Phase III trials. Two plantings were lost, one to a labor shortage and one to premature cutting. The occasional lost planting still provides insights; for example, the aborted NC trial highlighted labor concerns. The market integration study (OBJECTIVE 6) addressed pricing power, while tasting experiments focused on consumer preferences. The optimal-locations model will guide decisions on types and locations of post-harvest infrastructure. Significant results achieved Seed company use of public broccoli lines gives commercial programs a broader germplasm base and offers public material a potential path to commercial availability. ALL entries (except checks) to Phases I & II are new hybrids developed in support of this project, including 11 Phase I and 6 Phase II entries that are the result of line exchanges between public programs. Regional trials continue to identify the best new hybrids and have generated an enormous database on hybrid performance and nutrient content in varied environments. That phenotyping data is being used for stability analysis and other methods for better breeding of quantitative traits. Successful increases of two public hybrids by a seed company partner demonstrated that these public lines are amenable to the larger-scale seed increases needed for commercial release. However, a contracted seed production company has not yet reported success (or failure) with respect to two other public hybrids. Phase III trials allowed growers to gain broccoli production experience and compare the newest commercial hybrids with an older commercial standard. In 2014, they were conducted at a record 11 sites. That higher broccoli populations than those typically used by Eastern growers can lead to higher yields has been confirmed by trials in two locations over multiple years and with different varieties. In tasting experiments, subjects considered the quality of a new broccoli hybrid grown locally to be comparable to that of California broccoli purchased from a local supermarket and much better than that of an older commercial variety produced locally. Key outcomes Growers are responding to information from project trials: a NY grower is expanding broccoli acreage and investing in cooling; an NC grower is adding broccoli based on his Phase III experience; and an SC grower on the verge of dropping broccoli is continuing with it after adopting a tighter population to increase profitability. Project personnel have become increasingly aware, through tours and discussions, of the potential role that food hubs may have in allowing groups of small growers to supply larger customers. The transshipment model developed for this project has been published. The market integration study, soon to be submitted for publication, revealed that eastern markets are more efficient when there is regional competition due to broccoli production on the East Coast in the summer-fall season; thus, developing varieties adapted to East Coast growing conditions in the winter-spring season can substantially contribute to improved efficiency in broccoli markets.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Attalah, S.S., M.I. Gomez and T. Bjorkman. 2014. Localization effects for a fresh vegetable product supply chain: broccoli in the eastern United States. Food Policy, 49:151-159.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bjorkman, T. 2014. Efficient evaluation of qualitative traits in multisite trials. HortScience 49(9):S98.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bjorkman, T. and M. Gomez. 2014. Optimal plant populations for crown-cut broccoli in highly productive Eastern sites. HortScience 49(9):S386.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Fan, X., M. Gomez and T. Bjorkman 2014. Are consumers willing to pay price premiums for newly developed East Coast broccoli varieties? HortScience 49(9):S274-5.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Farnham, M.W., Z. Stansell, P. Griffiths, J.M. Davis, M. Hutton, and T. Bjorkman. 2014. Using Regional Broccoli Trial Data to Select Experimental Hybrids for Input into Advanced Yield Trials. HortScience 49(9):S242.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Myers, J.R. 2014. Status of Cytoplasmic Male Sterility (CMS) in Vegetable Brassicas. 7th Organic Seed Growers Conference, Corvallis, OR Jan. 30  Feb. 1, 2014. pp. 134143.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Sams, C.E., D. A. Kopsell, A. Saxton, P. Griffiths, T. Bjorkman, M. Farnham, J. Davis, M. Hutton, and W. Morris. 2014. Analysis of genetic and environmental effects on broccoli cultigens grown in in diverse environments in the Eastern United States. HortScience 49(9):S343.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Ward, B., M.W. Farnham, P. Smith, Z. Stansell, S. James. 2015. Maximizing plant density affects broccoli yield and quality. Submitted to HortTechnology, ACCEPTED PENDING REVISION.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Duclos, D.V. and T. Bjorkman. 2015. Gibberellin Control of Reproductive Transitions in Brassica oleracea Curd Development. Journal Amer. Soc. Hortic. Sci. ACCEPTED.


Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Several audiences were targeted during this reporting period. Our own team members constitute one such group; they received training on Phase III protocols and on the US Food Distribution system. All of our commercial stakeholders received our annual report and and other communications as necessary, and some of them also participated in the Food Distribution webinar and the annual phone conference. Seed company partners were recipients of 2012 regional trial reports, which allowed them to see how their material performed relative to other public and commercial entries; they were also contacted by public program leaders to collaborate on public line development. Current and prospective broccoli growers are the target audience for recommendations and production guides on the website, production trials, field days, and presentations at grower meetings and expos. Some presentations also target the academic and research community, which promotes the project and fosters insightful discussion. A production-style trial at Virginia Tech’s Kentland Farm local not only served as a Phase III trial, but also supplied local broccoli to the university and served as a demonstration of sustainable methods for broccoli production. Broccoli preference testing targeted consumers but also has meaning for distributors and retail buyers. The general public was the intended audience for several press reports related to the broccoli project. Press coverage of the project is encouraged to enhance public understanding of agricultural research in general and this project in particular. It also has value for our stakeholders and draws interest from outside growers, extension personnel, and various commercial entities that may ultimately have a role in an eastern broccoli industry. Changes/Problems: In light of the smaller demand for having us develop linked multi-region grower networks, we propose putting greater effort into providing the economic information they need, including: models of pricing power, socompanies can avoid having more supply than the prices can support; accurate information on easterncustomer quality expectations; and optimal locations of post-harvest infrastructure to suit eastern productionand market geography. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? As outlined in the management plan for the Eastern Broccoli project, the full research team met on Tuesday, 27 November 2012 during the Southeast Fruit & Vegetable Expo in Myrtle Beach, SC. The group reviewed progress and prepared for expanded and increased activities in all objectives. Project team members also had the opportunity to attend Expo presentations with relevance to the broccoli project (for example, food safety and marketing sessions), and two members of the team gave project-related presentations to Expo attendees. Public broccoli breeding programs phone conferenced on 4 January 2013 to share and develop strategies for producing the increasingly large amounts of seed they are expected to supply for this project. In addition to intensifying hand pollinations efforts, they agreed to attempt higher yielding cage seed increases and engage seed companies for assistance with even larger increases of their most promising hybrids. Notes from the discussion were shared with seed company partners. All strategies have been employed to some degree, resulting in adequate seed supplies for most promising public hybrids. Fourteen undergraduates working with several project leaders gained experience in various aspects of agricultural research, from producing transplants and setting up plots for sustainable production to plant breeding methodology to preparing samples for nutrient analysis. One of these students is in the process of transferring into an agricultural program. An NC State graduate student worked on the broccoli effort to gain experience with research and conducting field days (although broccoli is not the focus of her study). Dining service employees at Virginia Tech helped establish, manage, and harvest the sustainable trials, enhancing their awareness of how their food is produced; at the trial's conclusion, the fresh, local, organic broccoli was served to Virginia Tech students and staff. Also, two graduate students in economics gained experience in conducting preference tests when they volunteered their help on broccoli tasting experiments conducted by PI Miguel Gomez and graduate student Xiaoli Fan. In anticipation of the start of Phase III trials in 2013, regional trial and extension personnel held a webinar on 30 January 2013 to develop trial protocols. Unlike Phase I and II trials, Phase III trials focus on evaluation of attributes (like yield and holding time) that are important to producers and buyers. The webinar resulted in a set of guidelines for designing plot layouts that suit local production systems (which vary from region to region) but would still give meaningful data for traits of interest to growers. Copies of the resulting guidelines and data sheets were made available to all Phase III trial personnel. Research team members, commercial partners, and others received an overview of the US Food Distribution System in a webinar presented by economist and PI Miguel Gómez on 6 May 2013. The webinar was particularly useful to Extension personnel, who now have a better understanding of the product marketing options available to their growers and how those options are changing. Links for viewing a recording of the webinar or streaming the slides are available on the project website. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to horticulture, PI Mark Farnham was named a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Each August, our project stakeholders are updated on progress via an annual report and phone conference, with smaller updates, emails, and phone calls serving to bring ongoing matters to their attention throughout the rest of the year. Also in August, the project director holds a phone conference with Advisory Board members to seek input on challenging issues. Insights from these discussions are shared with the entire research team via email. Extension personnel frequently present project news and results at growers meetings and expos (see list in Other Products). Additionally, production information and recommendations based on project findings are shared on the project website, with the most useful links appearing on the production page. Both of these outlets are targeted primarily to growers. The project blog, which aims for a general audience, highlights some of our ongoing efforts. Project collaborator Wythe Morris promotes good agricultural production practices with GAP training sessions across Virginia and North Carolina; he conducted eight of those in the past project year, and spoke at another twelve GAP Food Safety meetings. He also provided expert assistance to a number of growers preparing and conducting GAP certification audits. (All of them passed.) Dr. Ron Morse conducts sustainable broccoli trials with the assistance of Virginia Tech Food service staff, giving them hands-on knowledge of how local organic broccoli can be produced. To enhance public understanding of the broccoli effort, team members regularly engage media coverage of the project or related topics. (A listing of coverage can be found on the press page of the project website). Most recently, PI Thomas Björkman was profiled in a New York Times article that generated a significant amount of interest, as measured by an increased number of telephone and email inquiries and 5000 website visits. Soon after, a related story focused on how best to market broccoli and other healthy foods. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? In Year 4 of this effort, work on most objectives will proceed as planned. Our public broccoli breeders will continue to develop material for the regional testing system and work with commercial seed companies on collaborative line development and large-scale seed increases of hybrids from public programs. Public material will be entered into Phases I and II in 2014, and possibly Phase III. This spring, Phase III trials will be harvested in Florida for the first time. Next season (spring through winter 2014), new hybrids developed specifically for this project will reach Phase III. Extension workers will continue to support and train growers. Supply chain efforts (OBJECTIVE 6) will now focus on models of pricing power, socompanies can avoid having more supply than the prices can support; accurate information on easterncustomer quality expectations; and optimal locations of post-harvest infrastructure to suit eastern productionand market geography.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Major activities. Public broccoli breeding programs (OBJECTIVE 1) continued to improve parental lines, create and evaluate new test-crosses, enter new hybrids in regional trials, and generate seed for all these activities. Public programs contributed 16 new hybrids to 2013 Phase I trials, and saw 6 hybrids promoted to Phase II. Commercial programs entered 10 new hybrids to Phase I trials and advanced 6 hybrids to Phase II in 2013. All 3 Phases of the regional testing system (OBJECTIVE 2) operated in 2013. Phase I and Phase II trials were conducted in ME, NY, NC, and SC. Data from 2012 Phase I and II trials was analyzed; results determined hybrids promotions to Phase II in 2013 and informed Phase III entry decisions. Nutritional analysis was completed on 2012 Phase II samples; new samples were collected from 2013 entries. Phase III trials, which included commercial hybrids that entered Phase I in the project’s first year, were initiated in ME, NY, NC, SC, and VA. Two Florida locations (Hastings and Immokalee) were added to the testing system; they will run Phase III trials for winter/spring evaluations. Public broccoli breeders ran cage productions of select crosses and backcrossed cms into more lines for future cage increases (OBJECTIVE 3). Two public breeding programs made collaborative arrangements with commercial seed company partners. Commercial programs continued their own hybrid development efforts. One company released a hybrid that appeared in 2012 Phase I trials; another advanced one hybrid based on regional trial results. Extension trials (OBJECTIVE 5) that had growers try broccoli production for the first time or with new varieties or in a new production season concluded in fall 2012. Extension leaders recruited growers for and supervised 2013 Phase III trials. Population trials were conducted in NY and SC. Respiration rate and time to yellowing of 2013 Phase II entries were measured. A project blog and Twitter feed were established, and the website expanded. Extension personnel in NY partnered with a grower on an economic development grant to purchase higher-capacity cooling equipment to handle increased production. The grower is talking with a major New York City distribution company that plans to increase the supply of local broccoli available to New York City consumers (OBJECTIVE 6). Work continued on a model to determine optimal locations of post-harvest facilities. The transshipment model was revised and reformatted for submission to Food Policy, and crop budgets were published. A supermarket buyer questionnaire was developed and refined; it will be used to gather information on sourcing locations, buyer requirements, the influence of quality standards on pricing policies, and factors enabling or limiting the procurement of broccoli from local sources. A market integration study testing the efficiency of the US broccoli distribution system is nearing completion and will be the basis of a manuscript. Economic and tasting experiments had consumers compare fresh broccoli from New York with broccoli shipped from California. PI Miguel Gomez presented a webinar on the US Food Distribution system. Specific objectives met. OBJECTIVE 1 goals for Year 3 were met. Program leaders generate 20-30 new hybrids each year (this is the goal set in the proposal; the 50-85 value in the CRIS document is incorrect). Pre-screening trials eliminate hybrids that perform poorly or yield too little seed; only superior hybrids are entered into Phase I of the regional testing program. Thirty-three broccoli hybrids (16 new public hybrids, 10 new hybrids from commercial programs, 6 controls, and one other commercial variety) were entered into 2013 Phase I trials. Phase II trials included 17 hybrids(6 from public programs, 6 from commercial programs, and 5 commercial controls). Some Phase II entries were site-specific, so that each site trialed 15 hybrids. Goals for OBJECTIVES 2 and 5 were also achieved (details above). OBJECTIVES 3 and 4 are due in Years 4 and 5 as seed companies release new varieties. Internal progress to date is proprietary information. Five varieties have been released and marketed for the East Coast. Our supply chain goals (OBJECTIVE 6) have changed (see Changes section). Work continued on the model for optimal locations of post harvest facilities; preference tests designed to measure acceptance of eastern broccoli by eastern consumers were conducted; and a supermarket buyer questionnaire was developed. Significant results achieved. Public broccoli programs achieved increased hybrid seed production via intensive hand pollinations and cage increases. Novel, between-program crosses entered 2013 Phase I trials. Two public breeding programs arranged Collaborative seed production and line development efforts between commercial seed companies and public programs is an important step towards possible commercialization of hybrids originating from public programs. Results from 2012 Phase I trials revealed that new broccoli hybrids are performing better than controls under eastern conditions. Six of 13 new public hybrids tested in 2012 were promoted to more intensive Phase II testing in 2013,as were 6 new hybrids from seed companies. With the addition of two Phase III trial sites in Hastings and Immokalee, our trial system now spans the eastern seaboard from Maine to Florida, allowing us to trial material in every season. This expansion was enabled because the University of Florida filled two key faculty positions after this project began. Statistical analysis of 2011 nutritional data reveals significant effects of trial site and a strong genotype by environment interaction. A draft manuscript is nearly completed. Grower trials inspired at least 4 of the 9 participating growers to continue producing broccoli, either as a new or expanded crop or trying new varieties or seasons. The trials increased grower awareness of head quality attributes and variability and demonstrated the importance of arranging buyers and harvest labor before planting. Data from population trials indicate that greater per acre yields can be obtained if growers plant broccoli at closer spacings. Measurements of respiration rates (indicator of holding time) of Phase II entries showed differences among hybrids and were consistent with the range of published values. Phase II samples stored in the dark at 20° C had a very small range of values (3-4 days) for time to yellowing (shelf-life indicator). The project website now includes pages with variety recommendations, fertility summaries, crop budgets, GAP resources and harvest information. The blog provides a new outlet for sharing project news, while the twitter feed alerts subscribers to new postings. A major New York City-based food-service distributor is interested in buying eastern grown broccoli from NY state producers. One scenario would have a current grower’s farm in western NY serve as an aggregation site. The US Food Distribution Webinar provided a general overview of several supply chain channels that may be employed to bring eastern-grown broccoli from producers to consumers. Preliminary results from broccoli preference tests indicate that people are willing to pay approximately 30¢ more per pound for East Coast broccoli. A New York Times story profiling PD Thomas Bjorkman resulted in 5000 website visits and numerous inquiries from various sectors. Key outcomes. Crop budgets produced as part of the eastern broccoli project have been published. A link to the budgets is available on the project website. Collaborative arrangements between two public breeding programs and commercial seed company partners mark a key step towards the possible commercialization of hybrids originating from public programs. We are now able to trial material in every season. With the addition of Phase III trial sites in Hastings and Immokalee, FL, our trial system spans the eastern seaboard from Maine to Florida.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Atallah, S.S. and M.I. Gomez. 2013. "Eastern Broccoli Crop Budgets." Extension Bulletin 2013-12, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Atallah, S., M. Gomez, and T. Bjorkman. 10 November 2012. A Transportation Model for the Eastern Broccoli Industry. Presented at the Transport and Locations Session of the Regional Science Association International Annual Meetings, Ottawa, Ontario.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Farnham, M.W., P. Griffiths, J.M. Davis, M. Hutton, W. Morris, C.E. Sams, D.A. Kopsell, T. Bj�rkman. 22 July 2013. Regional Hybrid Broccoli Trials Provide a Means to Further Breeding Efforts of This Increasingly Important Vegetable Crop. Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science. Palm Desert, CA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bj�rkman, T. 25 January 2013. Overcoming the challenge of removing field heat: Pros, cons and economics of different cooling technologies for broccoli. Empire State Producers Expo, Syracuse, NY.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bj�rkman, T. 25 January 2013. Update on heat tolerant variety development and plant population effects on yield and quality for broccoli. Empire State Producers Expo, Syracuse, NY.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Bj�rkman, T. 11 December 2012. Managing Public-Private Partnerships: Developing an Eastern Broccoli Industry. Presentation at the NIFA-NC Grantsmanship Workshop, North Carolina A & T University, Greenville, SC.


Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Public sector broccoli breeding programs run by Mark Farnham (USDA Charleston), Phil Griffiths (Cornell) and James Myers (Oregon State) continued increased efforts (additional populations, selections, test crosses, hybrid seed production) in support of this project and exchanged inbred lines. Material transfer agreements with all partnering seed companies and research institutions were finalized. The regional trial team of Griffiths, Farnham, Mark Hutton (U. Maine), Jeanine Davis (NC State), and Wythe Morris (Virginia Tech) successfully wrapped up 2011 Phase I screening trials late last fall. In December 2011, team members convened in Waynesville, NC, where they discussed results, chose entries for 2012 Phase II trials (advanced screening of best Phase I performers), and finalized Year 2 plans. A 2011 trial report produced by Phil Griffiths was distributed to partnering seed companies, along with 2012 trial seed requests. By late January 2012, Cornell's Sarah Durkee had sorted, coded, and packaged incoming seed for redistribution to trial sites. Year 2 regional trials began in February 2012 (expected to conclude in November 2012). Phase I trials included 2 plantings of 39 (mostly new hybrid) entries at each of 5 locations. Phase II trials began this year, with 5 plantings of 12 commercial entries at each of 4 testing sites. Hutton and Powell Smith (SC) conducted extra Phase II plantings closer to large production regions in their states. Ron Morse and Allen Straw (Virginia Tech), Emily Bernstein (with Davis) and Zach Stansell (with Farnham) provided additional trial assistance. Carl Sams and Dean Kopsell (University of Tennessee) analyzed the nutritional content of 180 samples from 2011 Phase I trials and are expecting 288 samples from 2012 Phase II trials. Two seed company partners released a total of 4 varieties for sale to eastern growers. Extension leaders Thomas Bjorkman, Morris and Davis recruited 11 growers to try producing broccoli. To address the needs of organic broccoli growers, Bernstein applied for and received an Organic Farming Research Foundation grant to conduct a complimentary organic trial. Bjorkman and Smith each initiated population studies, one comparing yields of 2 varieties at 3 spacings (NY), and the other using 3 spacings on plastic mulch following watermelon (SC). Morris provided GAP certification training for many growers, including broccoli producers, in VA, NC, and SC, and received an award for his efforts. Project personnel gave talks on the project at at several field days and grower meetings in NY, SC, and NC, and presented 5 project posters at the annual American Society for Horticultural Science meeting in Miami. Miguel Gomez discussed the project at the NY Produce Show in November 2011. Two webinars were conducted, one by the supply chain team in December 2011 and another in June 2012 by the regional trial team. Gomez and graduate student Shadi Atallah developed and validated a transshipment model for eastern broccoli and began a spatiotemporal price analysis of market integration and market power. PARTICIPANTS: Justin Smith replaced Mary van Ryn as PI in January 2012. The list of research collaborators should also include Wythe Morris, Ron Morse (replacing Brinkley Benson) and R. Allen Straw. Seven participants hired in year one continued their work with the project in Year 2. Jill Eccleston, a post doc with PD Thomas Bjorkman at Cornell University, has served as project manager since October 2010. Post doc Shadi Atallah, under the guidance of PI Miguel Gomez of Cornell, joined the team in fall 2010. Technician Joe Shail at Cornell works on the extension component of the project with PD Thomas Bjorkman. Jeanine Davis at NC State hired Emily Bernstein to replace Amy Hamilton as research specialist in Year 1, and also added Kelly Gaskill for additional field labor. Zachary Stansell has provided technical assistance for PI Mark Farnham's USDA vegetable breeding program since March 2011. One 2010 hire is no longer with the program: Zack Snipes, who worked with Powell Smith at Clemson, left the position to pursue a graduate degree at Clemson at the end of the first year. Many new participants joined the project in Year 2. Shinji Kawai is a faculty research assistant at Oregon State University with PI James Myers. Justin Ballew worked with Powell Smith at Clemson and only just left the project to study agriculture at the University of Georgia (a career move partly inspired by his work on the broccoli project). Davis at NC State had help from Margaret Bloomquist (field labor) and Alison Dressler (transplant production and data collection). Recent grads Katie Woodman (applying to grad school in biology) and Becky Cunningham provided assistance for PI Mark Hutton (University of Maine). Griffiths (Cornell) had assistance from Jeff McNamara (hybrid production) and Matt Wavrick (field and greenhouse work). Sarah Durkee provided technical assistance for Griffiths. The following undergraduates enhanced their training with work on the broccoli project: Gianni Parente (studying economics at Cornell, with Gomez); Jeremiah Grisa from Hobart William Smith (with Griffiths at Cornell); David Olshan (Cornell biology major) and Tamara McClung (heading to sustainable farming work in Arizona)(both with Bjorkman); Adam Huff and Chelsea Graves from Virginia Tech (with Ron Morse); Avery Beamer (Animal Science) and Ashley Light (Food Science), both from Virginia tech (with Wythe Morris); Cameron Rolle and Kara Young (both with Myers at OSU; Young graduated this past spring and completed a dissertation related to Anand CMS broccoli in Myer's program); Mary Allison Campbell (studying Agronomy at Mississippi State but worked with Farnham); Courtney Whitlock and Kristopher Abney (sample processing for PI Dean Kopsell at the University of Tennessee); and Kim Whitlock, Jennifer Wheeler, and Will Sublett (with PI Carl Sams at UT). TARGET AUDIENCES: The 2011 trial report was targeted to both our seed company partners (to help with breeding program and marketing decisions) and project personnel, who must choose regional and extension trial entries and update production recommendations. Project personnel were the immediate audience of two webinars held this past year, but in both instances the training they received in use of crop budgets and quality broccoli production will ultimately be shared with broccoli growers. Current and future broccoli producers also are the main audience for new varieties released in the east and updates to production recommendations, as well as for information from the eleven grower production trials and various field days and grower meetings conducted by extension personnel. The transshipment model, which will be modified as eastern production increases and key parameter values become known or change, provides information that is relevant to growers, distributors, and retailers. The market integration study was not part of our original supply chain plan, but was inspired by short-term price swings that led a grower-shipper partner to temporarily halt production. An understanding of the processes guiding broccoli prices will help our extension team determine how much volume to encourage from various production areas and which supply channels to use. These insights will also inform production decisions of growers and purchasing decisions of distributors and retailers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Public sector broccoli breeding program efforts resulted in 13 public entries to 2012 Phase I regional trials. Screening of new testcrosses, including some between-program crosses, produced several good candidates for entry to 2013 trials. Analysis of 2011 trial data revealed top performing commercial hybrids, which were subsequently included in 2012 Phase II trials. Information from the 2011 trial report was also used to update regional variety recommendations and was a contributing factor in the decisions of seed company partners to release four varieties for sale in the east. The regional trial webinar allowed trial personnel to calibrate evaluation decisions and thus ensure consistency across trial sites; it also educated extension and other team members on the wide array of production practices used in eastern settings. Expertise honed in eastern broccoli regional trials contributed to the success of the companion organic trial conducted in NC. Extension personnel trained eleven growers in various aspects of broccoli production. These same grower trials provided feedback to extension leaders on optimal population, using different varieties to extend season (including some of the newly released commercial hybrids), and production on muck soil. Presentations at the ASHS meeting raised awareness of the project among a larger group of researchers and extension personnel, some of whom may be useful to the project in the future. The supply chain webinar trained project personnel in the use of broccoli crop budgets to guide grower production decisions. The transshipment model developed by the supply chain team is being used to identify cost efficient distribution structures and will eventually be part of a through supply chain analysis to assess the ability of eastern broccoli distribution systems to compete with those in the western US. The market integration study will improve our understanding of pricing behaviors of supply chain participants as eastern regions increase their broccoli supply. Three recent university graduates worked on the project and are headed to graduate school in an agriculturally related discipline, while another will pursue a career in sustainable agriculture. Seventeen undergraduates assisting in project activities gained knowledge and greater interest in agriculture.

Publications

  • Atallah, S.A., Gomez, M., Bjorkman, T. (2012). Eastern Broccoli Supply Chain Model. Poster Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Miami, FL. 31 July 2012.
  • Bjorkman, T., Davis, J.M., Farnham, M.W., Gomez, M., Griffiths, P., Hutton, M., Kopsell, D.A., Myers, J.R., Sams, C.E., Smith, J. (2012). A Transdisciplinary Approach to Developing an Eastern Broccoli Industry. Poster Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Miami, FL. 31 July 2012.
  • Griffiths, P., Farnham, M.W., Hutton, M., Davis, J., Morris, W., Bjorkman, T. (2012). Performance of Current Broccoli Varieties under Eastern U.S. Conditions. Poster Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Miami, FL. 31 July 2012.
  • Kopsell, D.A., Sams, C.E., Farnham, M.W., Griffiths, P., Hutton, M., Davis, J., Morris, W. (2012). Broccoli Pigment Profile of Six Cultigens Grown in Five East Coast Locations. Poster Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Miami, FL. 1 August 2012.
  • Sams, C.E., Kopsell, D.A., Farnham, M.W., Griffiths, P., Hutton, M., Davis, J., Morris, W. (2012). Glucosinolate Variation among Six Cultigens of Broccoli Grown in Five Diverse East Coast Locations. Poster Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Miami, FL. 1 August 2012.
  • Farnham, M. and Bjorkman, T. (2011). Breeding Vegetables Adapted to High Temperatures: A Case Study with Broccoli, Hortscience, 46:1093-1097.
  • Young, K. (2012). Fertility in Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Broccoli Lines. An Undergraduate Thesis in Horticulture. Oregon State University. June 15, 2012.


Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Public-sector broccoli breeding programs increased their efforts to yield more material for testing. Mark Farnham (USDA ARS, Charleston) added an extra F2 population and contributed 3 hybrid entries each to 3 trial sites. Phillip Griffiths (Cornell) doubled the population size for his program to ensure good entries for 2012 trials. James Myers (Oregon State) maintained 26 inbred lines, produced 25 crosses for fall field trials, and evaluated seed production of three inbreds in an Anand CMS background. Farnham and Griffiths determined entries for 2011 Phase I trials and developed a scoring sheet, reference card, and standardized evaluation procedures, which were shared with trial leaders at a 2 Dec. 2010 meeting in Charleston. Seed for 36 trial entries (including 6 checks) supplied by seed company partners or other distributors, was received and sorted at Griffith's lab, coded by technician Sarah Durkee to ensure blind trials, and distributed to Farnham (Charleston, SC), Wythe Morris (Carroll County, VA), Jeanine Davis (Waynesville, NC) Griffiths (Geneva, NY), and Mark Hutton (Monmouth, ME). Each site hosted 2 trial plantings, one at an optimal time for broccoli in that region and a second at a marginal time. Samples of the 6 check entries from each planting and site were sent to the University of Tennessee for nutritional analysis by Dr. Carl Sams and Dr. Dean Kopsell. Trial and nutritional results will be available Dec. 2011. Extension leaders characterized the current state and expansion potential of grower networks, reviewed production recommendations, and established a framework for new recommendations. A project website was established at http://www.easternbroccoli.org to provide background information and showcase resources and results. Morris shared project information at the Southern Region IPM Board of Directors Meeting in Raleigh on Nov. 9, 2010. Bjorkman spoke about the effort at the Annual Southeast Vegetable & Fruit Expo in Myrtle Beach, SC on 1 Dec. 2010 and at the Empire State Fruit & Vegetable Expo in Syracuse, NY on 27 Jan. 2011. Davis showcased broccoli at the NC State Mountain Research Station Workshop Field Day on 27 July 2011 and at an Organic Broccoli Field day in Valle Crucis, NC on 15 Aug. Bjorkman ran a population trial to get better potential yield estimates for Western NY and to inform crop budgets developed by Miguel Gomez and graduate student Shadi Atallah for the five prospective eastern growing regions and California. Gomez and Atallah first produced an inventory of broccoli crop budgets for production sites, substituting cabbage production information for that of broccoli. A survey instrument to gather information from sites with no pre-established budgets was developed and tested on a western NY farm. Information on alternative post-harvest treatments and their costs was compiled in a database. Discussions with university experts and industry providers of post-harvest technologies gave additional data. Atallah and Christine Hoepting visited and collected data from farms in Western NY, Salinas, CA, and, with Powell Smith, South Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: Mary Van Ryn of Bejo Seed left the company and was replaced on the project by Jan van der Heide of Bejo Seed in the same capacity in breeding, regional trials and hybrid production. Ron Morse of Virginia Tech was added to the project as part of the Extension objective. TARGET AUDIENCES: The current state and expansion potential of the eastern growers that are the primary target audience of this project is as follows: in South Carolina, three large growers; in Virginia, a network of well-organized growers that may expand slightly; in North Carolina, a large pool of interested potential small growers (some organic); in New York, a modest pool of large growers, including some that currently specialize in leafy greens and sweet corn, are already familiar with good agricultural practices, and can make use of pre-existing harvest and cooling facilities; and, in Maine, a large grower who is not currently involved with the project but could benefit from new broccoli varieties. New broccoli production recommendations will target current vegetable growers who are adding broccoli to their crop mix. The design of the new recommendations, which will center on crown cut broccoli, is established. The guide will have a more integrative description of management to give growers a clearer context, but will refer them to the appropriate state guides for pesticide recommendations, which vary among eastern regions. Guidance to meet anticipated food safety requirements will be included. Results from 2011 regional trials will inform variety recommendations. Draft recommendations will be available in time for 2012 on-farm trials. Crop budgets developed this year will help potential growers determine whether and under what circumstances broccoli could be a profitable addition to their production rotation. Feedback from regional trials is informing the programs of commercial seed company partners and private sector broccoli breeders, likely influencing decisions about future test crosses and what varieties to offer in eastern locales. A press release explaining the broccoli project gave rise to numerous other stories, many featuring interviews with project participants. Some of these reports were produced for the general public, while others appeared in outlets serving growers, distributors, and retailers, thus raising awareness of the project among these three key industry groups. Field days and presentations (listed in the Outputs section) targeted potential growers and, in some cases, distributors. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
As a result of increased effort by public sector broccoli breeding programs, more material is available for test crossing and, potentially, for entry into the regional trial system. A draft Material Transfer Agreement was developed and shared with seed company partners to facilitate the input of new experimental hybrids to the regional trial system. In addition to establishing standard operating procedures for their sites, regional trial leaders received training in broccoli evaluation and sampling procedures, which they will continue to use throughout the project. Beginning in 2012, these production and evaluation skills will also be used to train growers who will be hosting on-farm trials and beginning or increasing their own broccoli production. First-year regional trials also will result in improved current-variety recommendations. A population trial run by Thomas Bjorkman demonstrated that, in fertile western New York soils, broccoli yields can be increased by increasing the population to 30,000 plants per acre. Crop budgets developed by Miguel Gomez revealed that overall production costs are similar for various eastern sites and California, though specific costs may vary among sites, and that post-harvest costs are a key factor in determining how profitable broccoli production will be in the eastern U.S. Thus far, 14 undergraduate students have gained knowledge through their involvement with various aspects of the project, including work on or related to broccoli breeding programs, regional trials, nutritional analysis, extension, and crop budget development. Numerous accounts in the media (listed on the project website) have alerted the public, growers, and other industry groups to the objectives of eastern broccoli project.

Publications

  • Farnham, M.W., Bjorkman, T. 2011. Evaluation of Experimental Broccoli Hybrids Developed for Summer Production in the Eastern United States. HortScience 46: 858-863.