Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The targeted audiences reached by our efforts were: 1) Alabama consumers 2) Alabama organic producers 3) Alabama organic retailers 4) Alabama students Changes/Problems:We plan not to hold any more workshops on university campuses because producers and consumers tend to stay away from university campuses. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We organized workshops to train extension agents on organic production, composting, integrated soil fertility management, integrated pest management, economics of organic foods, and food safety. A course "Organic Farming: Sustainability, Food Quality and Human Health" was created and now offered at Tuskegee University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Producers and extension agents trained were able to train peers in their communities. A field day was also held to show producers how to grow and manage cover crops. On-farm demonstration sites were established at Booker's farm in Madison County and at Southwest Birmingham Community farm in collaboration with Project Hopewell, Inc. in Jefferson County both in the northern part of Alabama. Crops such as cowpea, tomato, zucchini, squash and cantaloupe were grown organically for demonstration at both locations. Permanent field research plots were also established at the AAMU Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station (WTARS) for organic research and for demonstration of organic production practices as a teaching tool for students and growers. Various crops (tomato, eggplant, squash, cantaloupe, Bell peppers, zucchini) and production practices (cover cropping, organic mulching, plastic mulching, farmscaping, pest and disease management, soil health management, etc.) were demonstrated. In August 2015, our research team in collaboration with the ethnic vegetables research program organized a field day and workshop during which production management and integrated pest management practices were discussed. Our research team members conducted a tour of the organic vegetable plots to demonstrate farmscaping and pollinator enhancement, soil health management and plasticulture for weed and diseases management to participating farmers, students and the public. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan on continuing to educate Alabama consumers on the benefits of organic foods, train organic farmers on organic production management strategies, and teach the organic production course every semester.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the first year of this project, the goal and specific objectives were met: 1) Major project activities were met; 2) We held consumer education workshops in four major cities (Huntsville, Birminghma, Mobile, and Montgomery); 3) Alabama consumers more than ever start buy organic produce; they are well informed about labelling of organic foods; 4) Organic farmers understand better how to grow organic produce, production regulations, and how to market their products in the communities
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Sherlita M. Robinson, Mawazo j. Shitindi, Kokoasse Kpomblekou-A, and Adelia Bovell-Benjamin.2014. Variety trials for an organic production of sweet corn, sweet potatoes, and cowpeas. Nov 3, 2014, 66-7, Poster number 238. https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2014am/webprogram/Paper88823.html
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Sherlita M. Robinson. 2015. Organic Sweet Corn, Sweet Potatoes and Cow peas Variety Trial. Tuskegee Univ. Graduate seminar.
|
Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences were Alabama consumers and organic growers: minorities and others. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Counties agents were trained in organic crop management and organic foods preparation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Communities were invited to participate in the workshops. Two weeks following the workshops, we return to each community to share with them findings that transpire from the workshop in order to inform them about what they should focus on improve their dietary choices. Also we educate consumers on organic food literacy by explaining the meaning of USDA organic food labels, restrictions (prohibited Results of field experiments at the research sites are presented to extension agents, growers, and consumers at the annual professional workers conference. In addition, the results were used as training tool for organic growers with site specific guidelines. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Educating consumers on organic foods is a multi-year effort. Thus, we will continue the same effort during the next reporting period.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We organized workshops in four Alabama counties to educate consumers on the benefits of organic foods. The workshops were well attended by the public. Organic foods: salad, greens, chickens, beef, tomatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, cookies, drinks, etc. were served to participants.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Peter N. Gichuhi, Kokoasse Kpomblekou-A, and Adelia C. Bovell-Benjamin. 2014. Nutritional and physical properties of organic Beauregard sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.)] as in?uenced by broiler litter application rate. Food Science and Nutrition:1-9.
|
Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
Target Audience: The targeted audiences reached by our efforts were: 1) Alabama consumers 2) Alabama organic producers 3) Alabama organic retailers Changes/Problems: We plan not to hold any more workshops on university campuses because producers and consumers tend to stay away from university campuses. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? We organized workshops to train extension agents on organic production, composting, integrated soil fertility management, integrated pest management, economics of organic foods, and food safety. A course "Organic Farming: Sustainability, Food Quality and Human Health" was created and now offered at Tuskegee University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Producers and extension agents trained were able to train peers in their communities. A field day was also held to show producers how to grow and manage cover crops. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We plan on continuing to educate Alabama consumers on the benefits of organic foods, train organic farmers on organic production management strategies, and teach the organic production course every semester.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the first year of this project, the goal and specific objectives were met: 1) Major project activities were met; 2) We held consumer education workshops in four major cities (Huntsville, Birminghma, Mobile, and Montgomery); 3) Alabama consumers more than ever start buy organic produce; they are well informed about labelling of organic foods; 4) Organic farmers understand better how to grow organic produce, production regulations, and how to market their products in the communities
Publications
|
|