Southwest Indiana Vegetable Expansion

Production feasibility studies were completed with cooperative funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Indiana Department of Commerce and the Vincennes Area Community Development Corporation (VADCD). The study’s focus was to determine market opportunity and production expansion potential for fresh and processed vegetables in the Lower Wabash Valley.

Study findings revealed that cantaloupe and watermelon production expansion offered the greatest opportunity for new production. A new crop, seedless watermelon, was identified as a key factor in acreage expansion. Staked fresh market tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes for processing also were found to hold high potential for production expansion in the study area.

The Center has cooperated in initiatives to communicate these findings to produce buyers and processors throughout the United States. Currently, two regional processors are planning acreage expansion for chipping potatoes in Indiana for the 1991 season, and one is planning acreage expansion for processing pickles. These three initiatives alone could lead to over 1000 acres of new production in the state. Similarly, two grower/shippers of fresh produce are currently developing plans to expand melon production acreage in the study area. If fully developed, these two commercial entities could result in nearly 1500 acres of new production for Indiana by 1992. Collectively, these acreage expansion initiatives could generate nearly $6 million in new revenue annually for growers. Value-added economic activity in the state could reach $15 million annually.

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