The Economic Viability of Commercial Fresh Vegetable Production in the Northeastern United States
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The Northeast region with nearly 25 percent of the U.S. population and purchasing
power in I 983 is a deficit regioa in both processing and fresh market vegetable crops.
This study explores the underlying factors in the long post-World War II decline in
Northeastern vegetable production. It evaluates the economic viability of small-scale,
family operated vegetable farms with emphasis on Maryland and the
Baltimore-Washington Wholesale Market outlet near Jessup, Maryland.
Preliminary results of our study indicate that, under certain conditions, small-scale
fami ly farms can grow and commercially market fresh-market vegetables at competitive
prices, and generate healthy cash flows. The optimum mix of crops would include up to
three, non-competing crop sequences, with four different vegetable crops including
spinach, snap beans, tomatoes and broccoli. Family (owner-operator) labor was found to
be a major resource constraint on volume of vegetables marketed, especially tomatoes.
Potentials for future expansion in selected crops seem to exist with improved technology
and better management.