BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//www.herbsociety.org//NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.30.10// CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH UID:b9dfbee7-fc71-4c53-a102-014637f7b57a X-WR-CALDESC:Crop diversification and market expansion is essential for suc cess of small family farms in New England. Increasingly\, high tunnels (un heated plastic hoop houses) are used to overcome unpredictable climate eve nts. These structures allow growers to extend the growing season\, providi ng conditions in which to grow crops that otherwise would not survive. Ear ly tomatoes and winter greens are commonly grown\, but competition among g rowers for a limited market is high. This led us to consider other lucrati ve crops. One is SAFFRON\, the most expensive spice in the world ($5\,000/ lb retail). Saffron—stigmas of a fall-blooming crocus—is also known for it s medicinal properties as an anti-carcinogen and to combat depression and reduce cholesterol. Over 25 tons of saffron was imported to the US in 2013 . Saffron is hardy to USDA zone 5/6\, though it is doubtful it would provi de high yields if grown outside. In 2015 we conducted the first VT trial\, growing saffron in plastic milk crates and raised beds in a high tunnel. Yield surpassed that reported for key saffron-growing areas (1.39 gr/sq. m (VT) compared to 0.6 gr (Spain fields). The retail price of organic saffr on in Vermont is $19/gr. Based on our yield\, saffron could generate $100\ ,000/acre. We estimate the net revenue per sq. ft from saffron at $4.03\, compared to $3.51 for tomatoes\, and $1.81 for winter greens.\n\nSaffron p roduced in these trials was analyzed to compare crocin and saffranal conte nt. We determined that in general the saffron produced in the Vermont high tunnel was comparable to that from Iran\, Spain\, Pennsylvania and Italy. This project has generated significant interest among growers and the pre ss. Work is continuing to further confirm the suitability of in-crate saff ron production\, and assess the economic feasibility and markets for saffr on. \n\n The North American Center for Saffron Research and Development is hosting an introductory workshop on saffron\; it's production and econ omic potential\, in response to the interest generated from recent publici ty on growing saffron in Vermont. The event will provide background abou t saffron in general and specific information about how to grow and sell. This workshop is for growers of all types who think saffron could be a vi able crop for their operation. Registration is open to anyone with an int erest in growing saffron in your area of the country. \n\nThe North Ameri can Center for Saffron Research and Development is a collaboration among g rowers\, saffron specialists and organizations involved with production\, processing and marketing of this high value crop from the US and beyond. X-WR-RELCALID:0c97af96482ab8b33d77ce23607bfc06 X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Chicago BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:STANDARD TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20161106T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 RDATE:20171105T020000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20160313T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 RDATE:20170312T020000 RDATE:20180311T020000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT UID:c30c0d51-a23f-44e8-82c5-7d6e6c20b112 DTSTAMP:20260512T055610Z DESCRIPTION:Crop diversification and market expansion is essential for succ ess of small family farms in New England. Increasingly\, high tunnels (unh eated plastic hoop houses) are used to overcome unpredictable climate even ts. These structures allow growers to extend the growing season\, providin g conditions in which to grow crops that otherwise would not survive. Earl y tomatoes and winter greens are commonly grown\, but competition among gr owers for a limited market is high. This led us to consider other lucrativ e crops. One is SAFFRON\, the most expensive spice in the world ($5\,000/l b retail). Saffron—stigmas of a fall-blooming crocus—is also known for its medicinal properties as an anti-carcinogen and to combat depression and r educe cholesterol. Over 25 tons of saffron was imported to the US in 2013. Saffron is hardy to USDA zone 5/6\, though it is doubtful it would provid e high yields if grown outside. In 2015 we conducted the first VT trial\, growing saffron in plastic milk crates and raised beds in a high tunnel. Y ield surpassed that reported for key saffron-growing areas (1.39 gr/sq. m (VT) compared to 0.6 gr (Spain fields). The retail price of organic saffro n in Vermont is $19/gr. Based on our yield\, saffron could generate $100\, 000/acre. We estimate the net revenue per sq. ft from saffron at $4.03\, c ompared to $3.51 for tomatoes\, and $1.81 for winter greens.\n\nSaffron pr oduced in these trials was analyzed to compare crocin and saffranal conten t. We determined that in general the saffron produced in the Vermont high tunnel was comparable to that from Iran\, Spain\, Pennsylvania and Italy. This project has generated significant interest among growers and the pres s. Work is continuing to further confirm the suitability of in-crate saffr on production\, and assess the economic feasibility and markets for saffro n. \n\n The North American Center for Saffron Research and Development i s hosting an introductory workshop on saffron\; it's production and econo mic potential\, in response to the interest generated from recent publicit y on growing saffron in Vermont. The event will provide background about saffron in general and specific information about how to grow and sell. This workshop is for growers of all types who think saffron could be a via ble crop for their operation. Registration is open to anyone with an inte rest in growing saffron in your area of the country. \n\nThe North Americ an Center for Saffron Research and Development is a collaboration among gr owers\, saffron specialists and organizations involved with production\, p rocessing and marketing of this high value crop from the US and beyond. DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20170309T084500 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20170309T150000 LOCATION:Gardener's Supply\, Interval\, Burlington\, VT SUMMARY:SOLD OUT-North American Center for Saffron Research and Development END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR