The University of Wisconsin Commercial Vegetable Program is led by the UW-Fresh Market Commercial Vegetable Team.
With a systems approach, this team evaluates and optimizes the productivity and management of pests, diseases, and weeds in vegetable crops, namely, potato, carrot, snap bean, sweet corn, and mint.
In Wisconsin, specialty crop production and processing together account for about $6.4 billion in economic activity (3% of Wisconsin’s overall economy) and nearly 35,000 jobs (1% of jobs statewide), including both direct and induced impacts.
The team members have successfully competed for state, regional, and national grant funding in the current amount of $22.5 million to support research programs which aid in the advancement and optimization of crop management recommendations in the state of Wisconsin and beyond.
Projects have been successfully funded from:
- Wisconsin Institute of Sustainable Agriculture
- Wisconsin Specialty Crop Block Grants Program
- Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council
- Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association
- Midwest Food Processors Association
- USDA-Hatch
- USDA-SARE
- USDA-NRC-CIG
- USDA-EIPM
- NIFA-AFRI