Penn State project to bolster Mid-Atlantic specialty crop industry
More than a third of all farm sales comes from specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables and tree nuts. With consumers increasingly demanding food that is safe, nutritious and locally grown, the Mid-Atlantic specialty crop industry is sure to grow. According to Kathleen Kelley, project coordinator and associate professor of horticultural marketing and business management at Penn State, consumer demands are increasing as well as rising transportation costs for producers in California, Florida and the Southern Hemisphere countries who supply fresh fruits and vegetables to the Mid-Atlantic region. (more)