Reinventing year round local food production in Minnesota, 2015

Reinventing Year-Round

Local Food Production in

Minnesota

P.I.s: John Erwin, Julie Grossman, Mary Rogers, Carl Rosen,

Greg Schweser, Joanne Slavin

Scientists: Justin Carlson, Esther Gesick, Liz Perkus

Red Dot Potato Chip Greenhouses in Wisconsin ca. 1956

Historically, food in Minnesota was grown in greenhouses…

Pork and Plants, Altura, MN

Project objectives

• Identify 5 ‘high opportunity’ vegetable/fruit/herb crops to sell at local grocery stores, Coops, restaurants and farmers markets that can be produced in MN greenhouses

• Determine how environment and production system affects crop growth and yield

• Determine how environment, and production system affect nutritive value of selected crops, and whether the nutritive value of locally produced produce differs from imported produce

• Conduct an economic analysis of deep winter greenhouse production of selected crops

• Reach out to growers to maximize their success and establish an advisory committee

How did we choose the vegetables?

• Five high-opportunity

crops

• Focus group of

restaurateurs, existing

growers, co-op and

grocery stores

• Crops selected based

on:

– public interest

– potential for year round

production

– feasibility of targeted

production during high

profitability periods

– perceived health

benefits

An Overview:

Commercial Survey

• Explore existing greenhouse conditions

Organic Fertility Study

• Evaluate different fertility options

Day/Night Temperature

Study• Determine optimal

temperature conditions

The Crops

Commercial Survey

1. Bachmans

2. Bergens

3. Engwalls

4. Pork and Plants

5. Tangletown Gardens

6. UMN Twin Cities

A. Garden Goddess

B. Lida Farm

C.Paradox Farm

http://geography.about.com/library/blank/blxusmn.htm

Commercial Survey Test Sites

32

6

4

5

1

A

B

C

Conventional and Deep Winter

Conventional Greenhouse Deep Winter Greenhouse

Conventional Greenhouse

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

Nov 01 Nov 08 Nov 15 Nov 22 Nov 29 Dec 06 Dec 13 Dec 20 Dec 27

*F St Paul Greenhouse

TMPA TMPD

Heated Greenhouse – St Paul

75°F

50°F

Deep Winter Greenhouse

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

110.0

120.0

Nov 01 Nov 08 Nov 15 Nov 22 Nov 29 Dec 06 Dec 13 Dec 20 Dec 27

*F Paradox

TMPA TMPD

75°F

50°F

Deep Winter Greenhouse – Ashby

What we’re growing and

measuring1. Mesclun Mix –

Arugula, Mizuna, Red

Giant Mustard

2. Kale

3. Strawberries

1. Spinach

2. Cucumber

Measuring:

• Harvest yield

• Environmental

conditions

• Vitamin C content of

select crop

• Photosynthesis light

and CO2 curves

Organic Fertility Study

Treatments

1. Conventional Comparison – CalMag (15-5-15)

2. Fish Emulsion – Drammatic (2-5-0.2)

3. Poultry Litter – Sustane (8-4-4)

4. All in One Potting Mix – Purple Cow (0.5-0.2-0.4)

5. Carol’s Mix – Greensand, Rock Phosphate, Blood Meal,

and Lime; from “The Northlands Winter Greenhouse

Manual”

Mesclun mix (Arugula, Mizuna, and Red Giant Mustard),

Spinach, and Strawberries

Guiding Questions

• Which fertilizer grows the best yield?

• Is there a difference in nutritional value for

consumers?

• Do these fertilizers work well in

greenhouses?• Is there microbial activity breaking down organic

matter?

• Do different fertilizers have more plant available

nitrogen at different times?

Mesclun Harvest

All in One Conventional

Comparison

Carol’s Mix Fish

Emulsion

Poultry Litter

Conventional

Comparison

yield very

similar to

organic

treatments

All in One has highest

yield for Mizuna and

Red Giant Mustard

Arugula yields

similar across all

fertility

treatments

Vitamin C Concentration

Mizuna Red Giant Mustard

Co

nve

ntio

na

l

Co

mp

arison

Po

ultry

Litte

r

Fis

h E

mu

lsio

n

All

in o

ne

Ca

rol’s

Mix

Co

nve

ntio

na

l

Co

mp

arison

Po

ultry

Litte

r

Fis

h E

mu

lsio

n

All

in o

ne

Ca

rol’s

Mix

Day/Night Temperature Study

Growth Chamber

• Using growth chamber

• Can control

– Light

– Temperature

– Humidity

– Wavelength spectrum

http://www.aikonchem.com/upload/topimg/120930161250.jpg

Treatments

10°C 15°C 20°C 25°C 30°C

10°C 10-10 10-15 10-20 10-25 10-30

15°C 15-10 15-15 15-20 15-25 15-30

20°C 20-10 20-15 20-20 20-25 20-30

25°C 25-10 25-15 25-20 25-25 25-30

30°C 30-10 30-15 30-20 30-25 30-30

Day Temperature

Nig

ht Tem

pera

ture

Mesclun Mix (Arugula, Mizuna, Red Giant Mustard), Kale, Strawberry,

Spinach, Cucumber

Kale Plants

Kale Leaves

Acknowledgements

• MnDrive

• Bachman’s, Bergen’s, Engwall’s, Pork and Plants,

Tangletown Gardens

• Garden Goddess, Lida Farm, Paradox Farm

• Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Association, Minnesota Nursery and Landscape

Association

• Seward Cooperative, Lunds/Byerlys, Kim Barton

Acknowledgements

Questions?

Liz Perkus – [email protected]