Alternative and Specialty
Enterprise and Crop Production Information

This section includes general production information and resources as well as specific information on

• Agritourism
• Culinary and Aromatic Herbs
• Luffa Gourds
• Medicinal Herbs and Non-Timber Forest Products
• Mushrooms
• Organic and Sustainable Agriculture
• Pyrethrum
• Ramps
  
• Vegetables

Specialty Crops Information Online

• NC State University Specialty Crops Program
• Specialty Crop Production: Vegetables, Herbs, and Other Uncommon Crops – Article

NC State University Resources

• 2009 Vegetable Crop Handbook for the Southeastern US – Research-based crop production guidelines for the Southeastern region. This is a large PDF file which may load slowly.
• Value-Added and Alternative Agriculture – The resource center for entrepreneurship in value-added and alternative agriculture in North Carolina – Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
• Insect Notes – Department of Entomology

Other Resources

• Herbs – Wholesale, retail, and mail-order sources, NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• Agricultural Marketing Resource Center
• ATTRA – Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas
• International Herb Association
• Information on Insects – Clemson University
• Missouri Alternatives Center
• New Crop Center – Purdue University
• South Carolina Seed Foundation – Heirloom Seeds
• University of Florida Extension Information – Information on alternative crops, small farms, organics, and conventional fruits and vegetables.
• University of Kentucky New Crops Opportunities Center
• Production of Sweet Sorghum Syrup in Kentucky – Article, University of Kentucky
• Oregon State University Commercial Vegetable Guides – Includes herbs and an extensive list of vegetables
• Washington State University Vancouver Research and Extension Unit – Information on agronomic crops, baby corn, bamboo, edamame, fruit, ginseng, portable hoophouse, and more.

Jeanine's Recommended Book List

Agritourism

• Growing Agritourism in Kansas: A Starter Manual for Farmers and Ranchers. Jane Eckert. 2004. 128 pages. Softcover. Kansas Dept. of Commerce and Kansas AG Innovation. http://www.eckertagrimarketing.com/growingagritourism.htm

Cut Flowers

• Specialty Cut Flowers. Allan M. Armitage. 1993. 372 pages, color photos and line drawings. Hardcover. Varsity Press/Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. http://www.timberpress.com

Herbs in General

• Growing Great Garlic. Ron L. Engeland. 1991. 228 pages, drawings. Softcover. Chelsea Green, Chelsea, Vermont.
  http://www.chelseagreen.com
• Herbs for Sale-Growing and Marketing Herbs, Herbal Products, and Herbal Know-How. Lee Sturdivant. 1994. 246 pages. Softcover. A Bootstrap Guide. San Juan Naturals, Friday Harbor, Washington. Available from Amazon or your library.

Marketing

• The New Farmers Market. Vance Corum. Marcie Rosenzweig and Eric Gibson. 2001. 257 pages, black and white photos. Softcover. New World Publishing, Placerville, California. http://www.nwpub.net
• Sell What Your Sow! Eric Gibson. 302 pages, line drawings. Softcover. New World Publishing, Placerville, California.
  http://www.nwpub.net

Medicinal Herbs

• Growing At-Risk Medicinal Herbs. Richo Cech. 2002. 314 pages, line drawings. Softcover. Horizon Herbs, Williams, Oregon.
  http://www.horizonherbs.com/pilot.asp
• Growing and Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal and Other Woodland Medicinals. W. Scott Persons and Jeanine M. Davis. 2005. 466 pages, color and black and white photos. Softcover. Bright Mountain Books, Fairview, NC. http://www.brightmountainbooks.com
• Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field and Marketplace. Lee Sturdivant and Tim Blakley. 1999. 323 pages. Softcover. A Bootstrap Guide. San Juan Naturals, Friday Harbor, Washington. Available from Amazon or your library.

Mushrooms

• Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms. Third Edition. Paul Stamets. 2000. 574 pages, color and black and white photos. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California. http://www.fungi.com/index.html

Organics

• The New Organic Grower. Eliot Coleman. 1989. 269 pages, drawings. Chelsea Green, Chelsea, Vermont.
  http://www.chelseagreen.com/1989/items/neworganicgrower

Maintained by: Bryan A. Konsler