Vegetables An overview of the Vegetable industry in Georgia Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Dr. Frank Flanders and Catrina Kennedy October 2006

Objectives Students will be able to: –Identify various vegetables grown in Georgia. –Describe where vegetables rank amongst other Georgia commodities. –Describe the value of various vegetables in Georgia.

Georgia’s Commodity Value Item Rank by saleSales ($1000) Percent of total sales Poultry and eggs12,780, Vegetables, melons, and potatoes2383, Cotton and cotton seed3318, Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture4315, Other crops and hay5246,9365 Cattle and calves6240, Milk and other dairy products from cows7212, Fruits, tree nuts and berries8122, Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas9102, Tobacco1089,0581.8

Bell Peppers Bell Peppers are green if harvested before maturity and red if picked when mature. Yellow peppers, a different variety, are harvested when mature. Bell peppers, commercially grown mostly in southwest Georgia, are available from mid-June though October.

Lima Beans Lima Beans are grown in central and south Georgia and are harvested from June through November. Beans are among the oldest foods known to man. Columbus found native Indians in Cuba cultivating lima beans.

Pole Beans Pole Beans are grown primarily east of the Mississippi River and thrive in south Georgia. They can be harvested 55 to 75 days after planting, with peak production in May through August.

Southern Peas Southern Peas grow well in most Georgia soils but are primarily grown in central and south Georgia. Southern peas were brought to American soils with the first slaves from Africa.

Cabbage Cabbage is available almost year-round with biggest harvests in spring and fall. Cabbage, one of the first vegetables grown by American colonists, is planted in both north and south Georgia near towns like Dillard and Moultrie.

Squash Squash are those varieties with soft, edible skins and seeds and include green zucchini, yellow summer squashes and greenish-white Patty Pan squash. The names summer and winter squash are misleading because they have no relationship to harvest time. North American explorers took this native American vegetable to Europe, where it was completely unknown. Most of zucchini's flavor comes from the seeds; the smaller the seeds, the better the flavor.

Sweet Corn Sweet Corn is a part of summer's delicious harvest for centuries, is popular on the cob or used in a variety of recipes. Georgia corn is picked from June through mid- September. Corn is a member of the grass family, which includes wheat, oats, barley, sorghum and rice.

Tomatoes Tomatoes are one of the state's top cash crops. Available throughout much of the year, tomatoes are grown in southwest Georgia. Native to the Andes Mountains, tomatoes were introduced into Central America by prehistoric Indian migrations.

Greens Collards, kale, mustard and turnips are available almost year-round with the highest volume harvested from late December through March. On New Year's day, greens are served with black-eyed peas and hog jowls, a Southern tradition for good luck.

Eggplant Eggplant thrives in Georgia's long growing season and is harvested from June through October. A cousin of the potato, tomato and tobacco, eggplant grows wild in India.

Pumpkins Pumpkins are grown mostly in the northern region of the state. Georgia is among the top 10 pumpkin growing states. A candle in a glass is a safe and longer-lasting way to illuminate a pumpkin.

Value of Vegetables in Georgia

Interesting Facts Bell peppers are usually sold green, but they can also be red, purple or yellow. Tomatoes are very high in the carotenoid Lycopene; eating foods with carotenoids can lower your risk of cancer. Actually a fruit, it took a ruling by the Supreme Court in 1893 to make the tomato a vegetable. The French used to refer to the tomato as the “apple of love.”

Assessment 1. Where do vegetables rank among other Georgia Commodities? 2. What vegetable brings the most revenue to the state of Georgia? 3. Georgia ranks in the top ___ in pumpkin production. 4. What vegetable is served for good luck? 5. Sweet Corn is part of what family? 6. What vegetable is one of the oldest known to man? 7. What colors can bell peppers be?

Answers 1.2 nd 2.Tomatoes Greens 5.Grass 6.Lima 7.Red, green, yellow