Growing produce part of culture of ND agriculture

Ben Pifher/MDN People enjoy a farmers market’s fresh offerings despite the weather.
North Dakota can be a challenging place to grow vegetables for both commercial farmers and home gardeners because of a variety of factors, such as the dryness of the soil, the short growing season and the extreme weather, says a horticulturist with North Dakota State University Extension, Fargo.
Growers can adapt to the shortened growing season through the use of “high tunnels,” which are similar to a greenhouse but shelter plants that are growing out of the ground, not placed on shelves. These high tunnels can lengthen the growing season by several weeks.
The difficulty isn’t always with growing produce, though. Selling can also be a challenge. Farmers are encouraged to have a market plan in place before planting their crops because produce is much more perishable than crops such as grain.
As Tom Kalb, horticulturist with NDSU Extension, puts it, “Marketing is key, and it is not guaranteed.”
For those interested in learning about growing produce, universities and Extension offices are resources. Universities offer both paid and free classes on produce farming for a variety of crops. Extension offices also enable farmers and gardeners to learn about anything from the quality of their soil through testing to information on various pests.
Prospective growers should keep in mind that some produce is able to be grown in pots as well, for those who don’t have their own land to grow on. Many common food items are able to be grown on balconies in pots.
The best way to learn vegetables is to get out and grow them, according to Kalb. He is a proponent of experiential education.
“If you want to learn the best way to do something, then you should go out and do it,” he said.
Kalb further explained that poor nutrition isn’t a problem faced by only those who lack enough to eat. Poor nutrition is present even in those with full stomachs each night because they aren’t eating well.
“People should be eating more fruits and vegetables,” he said.
For those who would like to include fresh produce in their diets and don’t have time for markets, there is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). CSA is a program similar to a subscription service, in which customers pay money up front to a farmer. The farmer then provides them with routine deliveries of fresh produce during the harvest season. This provides the farmer with operating capital early in the season before crops even grow, allowing them to weather the off season better, and it provides a convenience to their customers.