A Scope Review of Ethnic Crops Research and Extension Resources in the United States
Applied Research
Jacqueline Kowalski
University of Connecticut
Bethel
Abstract
Extension and research faculty provide technical support to small and micro-scale farmers, and some of these farmers are immigrants and refugees hoping to establish agribusinesses in their new land. These community members may also prefer vegetables unavailable in typical grocery stores, such as roselle, bitter melon, etc. These niche vegetables are sometimes referred to as ethnic crops or world vegetables. This lack of easily available, culturally appropriate vegetables provides an opportunity for increased local production where possible. However, it is challenging to find production information on these emerging crops. We initiated a literature review to determine which land grant universities and Extension programs are researching and creating resources to produce these niche crops. After many iterations, a scholarly literature review protocol was developed utilizing the Web of Science search terms such as "emerging crop," "exotic crop," etc., to find research studies and reports addressing ethnic crops or world vegetables—other used filters included studies conducted in the US from 1995 to 2024 and studies written in English. A secondary search method was developed using the World Wide Web to scour the grey literature. Preliminary results indicate that Extension services and research faculty are conducting research and creating resources to serve the needs of those growing these crops; however, information is still limited and not always easy to find. This presentation will discuss the study's results, present supplemental materials, and consider opportunities for future work.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted only for display at AM/PIC. Poster is not to be judged, but the abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: Jacqueline Kowalski, Fernanda Krupek, Carlo Moreno
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Kowalski, J. Associate Extension Educator, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, 06801
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Krupek, F. Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University , Ohio, 44691
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Moreno, C. Assistant Professor, College of Wooster, Ohio, 44691