Just to clarify the situation: if organic perennial 'starts' such as
asparagus crowns, rhubarb roots, etc., are not available, conventional is
allowed under NOP and the product must be in the ground for 12 months before it
can be considered for certification - assuming the ground it was planted on is
eligible for certification at the time of planting.
Pat Whetham
In a message dated 3/5/2009 3:24:08 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
I talked
to a couple growers as well as the Extension Director in Oceana Co., and
couldn't find any organic asparagus growers in Michigan that actually plant
organic crowns.
Some start their own from seed like Les, but others just
plant conventional crowns. I think the main reason is, say you plant this
spring (2009), you are not going to get a crop in 2010 and the 2011 crop is
going to be small, by 2012, which would really be the first full
production season, the crowns will have been in the ground for 3 years and if
the field hasn't been treated with any conventional pesticides or herbicides,
then the crop is eligable for certication under the NOP. Asparagus crown
production is rather specialized, and I imagine that this time differential
may simply have kept a market for organic crowns from
emerging.
Taylor
"Les Roggenbuck"
<[log in to unmask]>:
> Hi Patrick,
> Thanks for posting
this.
> I purchesed asparagus seed this winter and will be starting them
in
> the greenhouse. I have had poor luck with crowns here for some
reason.
> Les
>
> Les Roggenbuck
> East River Organic
Farm
> www.eastriverorganic.com
> ----- Original
Message -----
> From: Patrick Crouch
> To:
[log in to unmask]
> Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009
10:00 AM
> Subject: Re: seeking organic asparagus crowns to
purchase
>
>
> When I started my asparagus crop
I was unable to find organic
> asparagus crowns anywhere, so I started
them from
>
> seed. It does take longer, but
I've been very pleased with the
> quality of the crop that they have
yielded. It also gave me
>
> extra time prep my
space to put them in. I'd start them now, I
> feel like it took
me around 14 weeks to get them up to transplant
>
size.
>
>
>
> Patrick
Crouch
>
> Program Manager
>
>
Earthworks Urban Farm, Detroit, MI
>
>
313-579-2100 ext. 176
>
>
www.cskdetroit.org/earthworks
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
From: Michigan organic growers seeking and offering information and
> ideas [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Vicki
Morrone
> Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 11:24
AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
Subject: FW: seeking organic asparagus crowns to
purchase
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
From: John Bakker [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:
Wednesday, March 04, 2009 9:26 AM
> To: Vicki
Morrone
> Subject: RE: seeking organic asparagus crowns to
purchase
>
>
>
>
Vicki,
>
>
>
> There are no organic
crown producers in MI and I am not aware of
> any outside of MI
either.
>
> Sorry I could not be more
help.
>
>
>
> John
Bakker
>
> John Bakker, executive director of the
Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.
>
>
>
>
From: Vicki Morrone [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:
Wednesday, March 04, 2009 8:54 AM
> To:
[log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
>
Subject: seeking organic asparagus crowns to
purchase
>
>
>
> Dear Growers and
Advisors,
>
> Could you please share your source(s) of
organic asparagus crowns
> and which variety(ies). I am assisting the
MSU Student Organic Farm
> to source a clean organic asparagus
crowns for this year's planting.
> Please write directly to me or
share with the listserv if you like.
>
> Thanks very
much for your input.
>
>
>
Sincerely,
>
> Vicki
Morrone
>
>
>
> Vicki
Morrone
>
> Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach
Specialist
>
> Michigan State
University
>
> C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food
Systems
>
> 303 Natural Resources
Bldg.
>
> East Lansing, MI 48824
>
>
517-353-3542
>
> 517-282-3557
(cell)
>
> 517-353-3834 (fax)
>
>
For information on organic agriculture production please visit:
>
http://www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu/
>
>
P Please consider the environment before printing this
email
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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