Study shows promise for East Coast broccoli industry [Cornell Chronicle 1/8/2013] – Thomas Björkman provides a recipe to grow a year-round, $100-million-a-year East Coast broccoli industry.
“Most standard varieties developed for western climates have trouble lasting through hot and humid eastern summers,” he says. “But new genetics have allowed us to develop varieties that don’t make misshapen heads when the weather turns consistently warm.”
Björkman is leading a collaboration with public breeders, seed companies, ag economists, grower networks, and others fueled by a $3.2 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant and supplemented by $1.7 million in matching funds from participating companies.