New Resources for California Farmers
Results: California Organic Carrot Variety Trials, 2014-2017
Organic Seed Alliance is pleased to release a new California carrot variety trial report today. The new trial report includes results from a multi-year organic trial conducted in partnership with Ronald Welten at Welten Farms in Gilroy, California. The findings are intended to help California growers identify carrot varieties that will perform well on their farms using organic management practices.
Our California research team evaluated the performance of fresh market bunching carrots, particularly Nantes types. Kuroda, Chantenay, and Danvers types were also included to provide a broad comparison. We conducted four trials over a two and a half year period, with three late summer sowings (2014, 2015, 2016) and one spring sowing (2016). This new report includes detailed results from all four trials and is available for free download from our publications library.
Get the trial report here
Upcoming field days throughout the state
OSA researchers have been busy this season, and we’re excited to share and taste our research with you in the field! We have several field days planned for September. The events are free and open to all. See below for details.
September 5 | 1 pm –3 pm
Community Field Day and Tasting
Camp Grant Ranch | Redcrest, California
Join OSA’s Jared Zystro for a Community Field Day and Tasting in Redcrest, California. The day will include a field tour and organic produce tasting. We’ll be featuring sweet corn from the Northern Organic Vegetable Improvement Collaborative (NOVIC), and tomatoes from three organic breeding initiatives including the Tomato Organic Management and Improvement (TOMI), Student Collaborative Organic Plant Breeding Education (SCOPE), and Tomatoes from Organic Seed Alliance (TOSA) projects. We’ll also have the opportunity to tour variety trials in the field featuring tomatoes, sweet corn, and sweet peppers.
Learn more and RSVP here
September 6 | 10 am –12 pm
Student Collaborative Organic Plant Breeding Education Field Day
The Student Farm Shop | Davis, California
Join OSA and the Student Collaborative Organic Plant Breeding Education (SCOPE) team for their annual field day. The SCOPE project is a student-led collaborative of faculty and student plant breeders working with local organic growers on improving crop varieties for organic farming systems in Northern California, with the possibility of future expansion to other regions. Graduate students from the project will present on their breeding projects, lead a tour of the field, and host a fruit tasting.
Learn more and RSVP here
September 16 | 1 pm – 5 pm
On-Farm Organic Research Field Day
Berry Island Farm | Gilroy, California
Join OSA’s Steve Peters for our 2nd annual Gilroy, CA On-Farm Organic Research Field Day. Come on out to tour and learn about the many exciting organic seed projects that OSA and Berry Island Farm are collaborating on in Gilroy. The day will feature an extensive on-farm organic tomato breeding project that’s in its second year. We’ll also have the opportunity to tour several types of seed production crops, including beans, broccoli, onions, watermelon, sweet corn, summer and winter squash, and variety trials featuring cucumbers, tomatoes, and sweet peppers.
Learn more and RSVP here
September 23 | 1 pm – 5 pm
On-Farm Organic Research Field Day
The Mushroom Farm | Pescadero, California
Join OSA’s Steve Peters and collaborators from The Mushroom Farm for our 1st annual Pescadero On-Farm Organic Research Field Day. The day will feature a tour and in-field presentation on an extensive on-farm organic tomato breeding project that’s in its second year. We’ll also have the opportunity to tour several types of seed production crops, including beans, cucumber, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, and summer and winter squash.
Learn more and RSVP here
September 23 | 1 pm – 5 pm
Community Field Tour and Tasting
Open Circle Seeds / Strong Roots Farm | Potter Valley, California
Join OSA for a Community Field Tour and Tasting at Open Circle Seeds / Strong Roots Farm on September 23rd. Come on our to learn about and taste organic produce from variety trials Open Circle Seeds is conducting as part of OSA’s California Variety Trial Program. We’ll have the opportunity to taste some of the 30 varieties of watermelons, cantaloupes, and other types of melons that are part of this project. The field tour will begin at 1:00 p.m. and the tasting will be at 4:00 p.m.
