![]() ![]() Results will be made available to the general public in UF/IFAS publications and journal articles. Another crop will be planted next year, after which UF/IFAS Extension agents will provide official results on production methods, cost of production, yields, and income projections. We sell out every week.”ĭata analysis from the research trials begins later this year. “Every type of person buys this crop – old, young, and of diverse races and backgrounds. “Education played a huge role in the marketability of the crop,” said Cash. The plant is nutrient dense and high in vitamin C and fiber. The leaves can be used in salad mixed green blends or sauteed, similar to spinach or arugula. Jams, pies and other recipes are also noted as delicious ways to enjoy the plant. Sorrel calyces, or flowers, are commonly used in teas, juices, beer and wine and is known for its tart flavor. The overhead is low, the sales are high, and this has been highly profitable for our farm.” “The resilience of these plants is remarkable. “This is a really easy crop for Florida growers,” said Cash. Planted in the summer, the crop bears multiple harvests from September to first frost. Excess moisture can cause some disease issues, but overall, the crop has flourished. The plants require very little inputs and maintenance and are extremely hardy. “When I visited the research sites in Florida in September, the crop was already taller than me.” “In the Virgin Islands, we’re lucky if the crop gets to be three to four feet tall,” said Thomas Zimmerman, assistant director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of the Virgin Islands. Speakers at the field day included experts from the University of the Virgin Islands, UF/IFAS Extension and the host of the event, Aubrey Cash, owner of Dirty Dog Organics farm. It’s also known as roselle, Florida cranberry, or Jamaican sorrel but is native to Africa. Sorrel, a relative of okra, cotton and hibiscus, is commonly grown in the Caribbean islands and a common ingredient in Caribbean food and drinks. The work is funded by a USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant. UF/IFAS Extension agents, in collaboration with the University of the Virgin Islands and central Florida farmers, are growing two research plots of the crop to understand its potential for commercial growth in Florida. A recent field day revealed preliminary findings and input from farmers growing the crop. It’s hardy, fast growing, has a variety of uses and UF/IFAS is investigating its potential as a new crop for Florida. Sorrel is a leafy green plant with reddish-pink flowers.
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