Limited Resources farmers face many different challenges when it comes to production and operations. Gaining resources, increasing production capacity, and low commodity prices keep these small farm operations from competing in the market. However, there are some actions that limited resource farms can take to increase income. One example of this is producing specialty crops such as strawberries. Specialty crops are not traditionally a focus of limited resource farms that grow traditional commodities, such as corn, hay, and wheat that can be produced in large quantities. However, they have the potential for huge financial gain and use fewer resources to produce.

Prairie View A&M University has taken part in the National Strawberry initiative to research specialty crops and offered extension programs that help small operations see the benefits of specialty crop production. With many consumers continuing to show a greater interest in local produce, they are more willing to pay higher prices for organic products. This initiative is a wonderful opportunity for limited resource farmers in Texas to improve their income by diversifying their farm production outputs. As the research has progressed, many limited resource farmers are already beginning to see how the initiative can positively impact their income and production value. One farmer, in particular, James Moss, had the opportunity to be apart of agricultural research taking place in the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences.

Mr. Moss is a military veteran who retired from public service to pursue his passion for the land. He lives in Prairie View, Texas where he and his wife Meoko farm 10 acres of land with a seasonal high tunnel, producing specialty vegetables for sale at the local Farmers Market.  Mr. Moss grows his crops without the aid of synthetic chemicals. He utilizes technology and knowledge gained from attending many conferences and workshops as well as talking with fellow growers.  Mr. Moss is always willing to share his knowledge with new and established growers. For the last two years, Mr. Moss has actively engaged in programs with the Extension program such as the Texas Sustainable Strawberry Project and the Seasonal High Tunnel Program. These collaborative projects with the help of university professional, Dr. Peter Ampim, Research Scientist, researched the impact of specialty crop production initiatives with limited resource farmers.  Mr. Moss is currently serving as President of the local Farmers Market group.

At first, there was uncertainty about the viability of organic methods of production, but the Moss family would later be very pleased with the outcome. In no time at all, locally grown organic strawberries were sold at the Tomball Texas Farmers Market. The bright color and fresh smell of the berries caught the attention of many market patrons, which was a big surprise to the vendors as well as the Prairie View researchers. In the end, the Moss family were excited about the efforts of Prairie View and Texas A&M to bring fresh local strawberries back to the Texas market, a huge step for Texas agriculture and small local farms across the country. Limited resource farmers may still face challenges such as gaining access to assets or market expansion, but specialty crop production could be the key to solving them. With 50% of the agricultural products today being made up of processed food, according to the Agriculture Marketing Service, the market for specialty crops has only gotten larger. If limited resource farmers are able to take advantage of this market trend, then they will be able to expand their operations and improve their quality of life.

Submitted by Raymond Thomas, Senior Agribusiness Major