It is really dry, but most home gardens and commercial vegetable operations are really looking good. Let's hope we get plenty of rainfall during the upcoming growing season, so we will have plenty of delicious fruits and vegetables.

If you are like me, you are getting anxious to eat some good, fresh, locally grown vegetables. I can almost taste those fresh, red, juicy, vine-ripe tomatoes straight out of the garden. I can't think of a meal that would be any more delicious than fresh cabbage, onions, potatoes, and squash cooked with a big chunk of ham. Add some fresh, sliced cucumbers and fresh strawberries for dessert and you would have a meal fit for a king.

There are still quite a few people in the county who raise vegetables for their own use and to share with family and friends. However, the vast majority of people living in Robeson County do not have the necessary space to plant a garden. Even if they have enough space, they probably do not have enough time to properly tend a garden or they simply detest working in a garden.

This does not matter. We can still get all the fresh vegetables we can eat by simply going to one of the local farmers markets or visiting one of the many small farmers who provide fresh fruits and vegetables right on the farm.

The Robeson County Farmers Market that operates in downtown Lumberton will open for business next month. Although you may see a couple of vendors selling fresh vegetables at this location before then, mid to late May is when there will begin to be a large assortment and a large amount of vegetables available. Many other cities in the county have small markets or at least have several resident vendors who sell vegetables from the tailgate of their truck.

The NCDA Southeastern North Carolina Farmers Market that is located on US-74 (one mile east of I-95) just south of Lumberton is quickly becoming a major supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables. More and more of our local vegetable producers are increasing the size of their farm operations and are now able to supply a larger variety of vegetables as well as a greater assortment.

Even though there are quite a few individuals who are producing and selling fresh fruits and vegetables directly from their farms or at one of the local farmers markets, there is still a large potential for new growers in this area. We have seen several new operations start up during the past two years, and they seem to be doing extremely well. Some of them are offering a variety of vegetables, and some of them are specializing in just one product like strawberries.

There is no question that vegetable and fruit production is quite different from tobacco or grain production. Fruits and vegetables for the commercial market is intensive and very specialized. It does not require as much land and equipment, but it sure does require a lot more management and labor.

Fruits and vegetables must be sold when they are ready, and the sooner they are ready the more valuable they are. They cannot be stored like corn and soybeans and be sold whenever the price is better or when the timing is a little more convenient.

Those individuals interested in producing for the commercial market should have a marketing plan in place before they ever plant the first seed. Although it is good to know exactly whom you are going to sell to, this is not always possible. What is necessary in some cases is to know ahead of time exactly what needs to be done to place the product in the hands of the consumer.

The decision may be made to sell the vegetables directly from the farm, but to be successful, a large number of people need to know that the vegetables are available. It may be necessary to advertise in newspapers or on radio, or strategically located signs and word-of-mouth advertising may be sufficient.

The distinct advantage that our local producers have is the Regional Farmers Market. As was expected, this market started off fairly slow the first year, since it did not even open until midway through the growing season, but last year more and more local people became aware of the market. This was not just local people from Lumberton but local people from all of the adjoining counties. A tremendous number of travelers on US-74 and I-95 are now stopping by the market to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Maybe with a combination of the local business and the travelers, the Regional Farmers Market will be even more successful this year than last year.

Many people who want to grow vegetables feel they do not have the time to spend a lot of hours at the Farmers Market in order to sell their products. This is probably true. Just one individual producer probably does not have the volume or variety of vegetables to properly supply a site at a large scale market such as the NCDA site. Because of this the most effective strategy is for several growers to join forces to form a marketing group. A co-op for this purpose is not necessary, just a group of growers willing to pool their resources and time to make it more efficient and profitable for everyone.

The Robeson County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service can provide valuable assistance and information -- not only about how to effectively produce fruits and vegetables in this area but we can also provide a lot of assistance and information about how to effectively market the products that are produced. There are also quite a few vegetable growers in the area who are more than willing to share their knowledge and skills with potential growers.

If you are a consumer, I encourage you to support your local community by purchasing as many of the fresh fruits and vegetables as possible from local growers. Visit their farms if they are selling from the farm. Visit one of the farmers markets. If you insist on a grocery store, why not insist to the store manager and produce manager that they provide locally grown products instead of those trucked in from other states or other countries. If you and enough of your friends insist long and loud enough, they will honor your preferences.

If you are a farmer wishing to diversify your farm operation, I encourage you to look closely at the potential for fresh fruits and vegetables. It will be a lot different than what you have been doing, but there is a potential for increased profits.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 5/2/02