Varieties with improved heat tolerance are now entering the market from several suppliers. We are working with those companies and with growers to exploit these varieties to expand New York broccoli production.
impact statement issue
Summer broccoli production in the U.S. is limited to coastal California because existing varieties become malformed in the summer heat elsewhere. Breeding for heat tolerance was slow because screening methods were unreliable. Broccoli would be a high-value crop for New York if only varieties that tolerated summer heat were available.
impact statement response
We have developed a screening method that allows precise targeting of the heat-sensitive developmental stage, thereby reducing the preponderance of false negatives.
In 2010, a regional effort began to make a viable broccoli industry on the East Coast, comprising a breeding effort among public and private entities, adapting production recommendations to the new varieties and production areas, and facilitating a modern and efficient distribution chain.
impact statement summary
Broccoli is a high-volume, high-value vegetable crop that would be well-suited for New York if it had greater tolerance of summer heat. The opportunity is great because New York has the land base, the grower expertise, and the consumers.
We are breeding germplasm that performs well under summer conditions, and we are providing both production and market assistance to East Coast growers with the intent of having a $100 million per year industry in 2015-2010.
