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What is the Vegetable Marketing and Research Program? The Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program is a state-wide marketing order The Program by law includes all growers in the state who grow vegetables for sale on one or more acres of land or in 1,000 sq. ft. or more of greenhouse space. that was established by a grower referendum, The Program was established in 1988 by a grower referendum under the Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act. Grower referendums are conducted every five years to determine the growers' continued support of the Program. that is governed by a grower board, The Program is governed by a board of twelve growers appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture from nominations submitted by growers. Four growers from each of the three regions of the state are appointed. In addition, a representative of sales agents required to collect the assessment and the Secretary of Agriculture also sit on the Board. and that is funded by grower assessments. The Program is funded by the annual assessments paid by the growers in the state. Each grower pays a basic assessment of $25.00 plus an additional assessment of $1.50 for each acre over 5 acres (or $1.50 for each 1,000 sq. ft. over 5,000 sq. ft. of greenhouse area). What vegetable crops are included? All crops commonly termed vegetables, including but not limited to asparagus, beans (snap, dry and lima), beets, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, mustard greens, kohlrabi, carrots, celery, corn (sweet, pop and ornamental), cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, horseradish, leeks, lettuce, muskmelons, watermelon, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, peppers, pumpkins and squash (edible and decorative), gourds, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and turnips, are considered vegetables crops under the Program. White potatoes are not included nor are mushrooms or small fruits like strawberries, brambles, blueberries or grapes. How is greenhouse area counted? Only greenhouse space used to grow a vegetable crop to maturity (like greenhouse tomatoes or lettuce) is counted. Space used to grow plants for field use is not counted. High tunnels are not considered greenhouse space. Is payment mandatory? Yes. Department of Agriculture regulations require all growers who grow one or more acres of vegetables for sale (or 1,000 sq. ft. of more of greenhouse vegetables) to pay the annual assessment. Why does the produce auction want to know whether l paid? Certain sales agents, namely produce auctions, packinghouses, processors and cooperatives are required by the regulations to collect the assessment from the growers they deal with unless the grower has already paid the assessment directly to the Program. What do I get out of this Program? Every grower who pays his/her assessment in a timely manner receives a full report on the research funded by the Program enabling them to make use of the information gained by the projects. The program offers growers weekly IPM updates by mail, fax or email for tomatoes and sweet corn during the growing season. In addition each grower receives a credit of up to $25 towards the purchase of point-of-purchase items for use in direct sales. Growers are also eligible to be listed on an online directory of wholesale produce growers. And finally, each grower, whether they sell their produce retail or wholesale, benefits from the increased consumer awareness and acceptance of local Pennsylvania vegetables produced by the media publicity. Why should growers pay for promotion when the state is doing so much? The Program has worked closely with the state Department of Agriculture's produce promotion campaign to coordinate the efforts of both groups and has received matching promotion grants from the Department for the last eleven years. One of the original reasons the state developed the “Simply Delicious” promotion was the Vegetable Program's billboard advertising campaign in 1996. In recent years the Department has shifted its promotion emphasis from the “Simply Delicious” program, which it still supports, to a broader umbrella promotion for all Pennsylvania agricultural and food products – the "PA Preferred" promotion. The Vegetable Marketing and Research Program recently established an annual “August is PA Produce Month” promotion to focus attention on local produce when most Pennsylvania vegetable crops are at their peak. The Program's sole purpose is to serve the vegetable growers of Pennsylvania by promoting Pennsylvania-grown vegetables, The Program has adopted the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's "Simply Delicious" logo for its promotion efforts. The Program provides growers with colorful point-of-purchase materials to identify Pennsylvania vegetables in the marketplace. For six years the Program promoted Pennsylvania vegetables on billboards across the state. In addition, an aggressive public. relations effort has been undertaken each summer to get Pennsylvania vegetables featured in newspapers reaching millions of readers across the state. The Program also sponsors a statewide Vegetable Recipe Contest to obtain recipes for the press releases. As noted above, since 2006 the Program has promoted August as Pennsylvania Produce Month and provides growers and supermarkets with point-of-purchase materials for this special month-long promotion. and funding practical vegetable production research. The Program has contributed over $350,000 towards practical vegetable production research since its beginning. Independent university research is one of the keys to the success of American agriculture. As government support for the land-grant universities declines, they must depend more heavily on the agricultural industry for funding. 2010 Board Members Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary-Treasurer Russell Redding, Secretary of Agriculture David Fleming, Yardley Stephen Ganser, Kutztown Don Geise, Northumberland Marcia Jones, Coudersport Stephen Kistler, Orangeville Joseph Mason, Lake City Kenneth Metrick, Butler David Peters, Gardners Moses Sensenig, East Earl Nathan Tallman. Tower City Staff William Troxell, Executive Secretary
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Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program
