When choosing products to grow on your farm, it’s important to balance both personal interest and professional profit. Fortunately, you can gain both when you invest in specialty crops. These are plants that are less commonly grown and sold compared to traditional agriculture products such as corn, wheat, soybeans, and dairy products. Learn more about what specialty crops are and which ones you should consider growing on your farm.
What Are Specialty Crops?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, specialty crops fall under a category of agricultural products that includes fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops such as floriculture. Specialty crops must be grown and used for food, medicinal purposes, or aesthetics.
Growing specialty crops is a great way to diversify your farming operation. They can be a creative way to add to your product offerings and increase profits; many specialty crops are also great for local markets or seasonal sales. Choosing the right specialty crops for your operation depends on your land, the local market, and your goals as an agricultural business.
Lavender
Lavender is a popular specialty crop because of its diverse range of products and applications. You can grow fresh lavender to sell on its own or dry the flowers for use in decor such as wreaths or other art. You can also make lavender oil to sell by itself or to use in products such as candles, lotions, and more.
Furthermore, lavender is beneficial to other plants in your garden. It helps attract pollinators while repelling pests like mosquitos and ticks. Lavender is easy to grow, resistant to many diseases, and lives for up to 15 years, making it a worthwhile investment for your farm.
Mushrooms
If you want to maximize space utilization, mushrooms are a great specialty crop to consider growing on your farm. They grow densely, allowing you to make more profit from less land. You can also grow mushrooms indoors, allowing you to save space or get creative with the facilities already on your property.
Mushrooms are harder to transport than other agricultural products, making them popular at local markets. If you want to make more money selling to local customers or if you’re looking to build relationships with local restaurants, grocers, and other distributors, mushrooms are an excellent addition to your farm.
Pumpkins
Pumpkins are an excellent example of a seasonal specialty crop. They’re a wonderful option you can add to your product offerings in the fall to boost seasonal profits. You can also grow pumpkins to break into the agrotourism market by hosting a pumpkin patch and other autumn festivities.
Invest in Specialty Crops With Farm Plus Financial
Adding new agricultural products to your business takes money. With an agricultural loan from Farm Plus Financial, you can fund various operations and take your farm to new heights. Explore our California land loans and other farm loan options across the US when you partner with Farm Plus Financial today.