BANANA CULTIVAR TRIALS FOR FRUIT PRODUCTION, ORNAMENTAL-LANDSCAPE USE, AND ORNAMENTAL-NURSERY PRODUCTION IN SOUTH GEORGIA

North America is the largest net importer of bananas on a regional basis. The United States is still the worldÂ’'s number- one importer and consumer of bananas. U.S. companies spend approximately $1.1 billion each year on banana imports, purchasing 31.1% of total world imports (Fonsah 2002; FAO 2001). Bananas and plantains together have been rated the fourth most important crop in the world in terms of food value and food security. This research is aimed at determining the feasibility and suitability of Annual Cropping Production (ACP) for a niche market under Georgia weather conditions and, determining which cultivars have the greatest potential for ornamental-landscape use and ornamental-nursery production. Phenological and pomological sampling and data will be used to analyze the feasibility and suitability of ACP and ornamental use.banana, cultivars, input application, fertility, field operations, production, marketing, quality, landscape, green industry, finger length, calibration, pseudo-stem, Crop Production/Industries,

Second Year Banana Cultivar Trial in South Georgia

The development of the annual cropping production system (ACP) and more cold-tolerant cultivars has allowed commercial banana production outside the traditional production belt. This evaluation of 32 cultivars was initiated to determine the feasibility and suitability of Annual Cropping Production (ACP) for niche/ethnic markets under Georgia weather conditions; determine the growth performance, fruit quality, and marketability; and determine which cultivars have sufficient cold hardiness for ornamental landscape use.Crop Production/Industries,

Why Are There Seeds In My Banana? A Look at Ornamental Bananas

In many parts of the world bananas are a staple food, while in other regions they are a highly valued ornamental plant. Bananas are the fourth most important food crop in the world, and they are also used in many other ways—every part of the plant has value. In addition to the standard dessert bananas, there is another group of species in the banana genus that are much less known in the United States but offer some wonderful options as landscape plants. This group of banana species is known as ornamental bananas. This paper sheds some light on ornamental banana cultivars that provide a tropical atmosphere to gardens in the Southeast region of the United States.Crop Production/Industries,

Banana Trials: A Potential Niche and Ethnic Market in Georgia

Annual cropping production (ACP) is a technique used worldwide to target favorable market conditions. This technique has allowed commercial banana production outside the traditional production belt such as South Africa, Thailand, Israel, and China. In 2003 an evaluation of thirty-three cultivars was initiated near Savannah, Georgia to determine their suitability for ornamental, nursery, and ACP for niche/ethnic markets under Georgia weather conditions. In South Georgia and other temperate regions around the world, the pseudostems are normally killed to ground level during most winters. However, excellent plant growth rate, good flowering, and limited commercial fruit production was observed. Identifying one or more cultivars with potential to produce commercial fruits may result in a huge market opportunity, especially because the United States is the largest consumer and net importer of bananas. Despite the erratic fruit production, male flowers, leaves for cooking, and suckers for ornamental purposes have potential to generate significant farm income in this belt. Of the cultivars investigated, ‘Musa 1780’ (believed to be an ‘Orinoco’ type), ‘Sweet Heart,’ ‘Dwarf Namwah,’ ‘Ice Cream,’ ‘Kandarian,’ and ‘Belle’ cultivars were the most successful, but the growing season was slightly too short. The study was conducted from 2003 to 2006. Data was analyzed using Proc Mixed.Agribusiness, Marketing,

A Plan for Economic Evaluation of Organic Blueberry Production in Georgia

Blueberry consumption is increasing across the United States. Georgia’s production value of conventional blueberries has exceeded that of peaches to reach a farm-gate value of $75 million. Demand for organic food products is increasing with United States gross sales at$16.9 billion in 2006. Economic feasibility of organic blueberries is uncertain creating risk in transitioning from conventional to organic production. The principal objective is to utilize field data to determine the costs of various production methods, by developing several enterprise budgets for each adopted technique., Crop Production/Industries,

Economics of Organic Blueberry Establishment in Georgia

Crop Production/Industries,

BANANA CULTIVAR TRIALS FOR FRUIT PRODUCTION, ORNAMENTAL-LANDSCAPE USE, AND ORNAMENTAL-NURSERY PRODUCTION IN SOUTH GEORGIA

North America is the largest net importer of bananas on a regional basis. The United States is still the world's number- one importer and consumer of bananas. U.S. companies spend approximately $1.1 billion each year on banana imports, purchasing 31.1% of total world imports (Fonsah 2002; FAO 2001). Bananas and plantains together have been rated the fourth most important crop in the world in terms of food value and food security. This research is aimed at determining the feasibility and suitability of Annual Cropping Production (ACP) for a niche market under Georgia weather conditions and, determining which cultivars have the greatest potential for ornamental-landscape use and ornamental-nursery production. Phenological and pomological sampling and data will be used to analyze the feasibility and suitability of ACP and ornamental use

A Three-Year Study on the Effect of Trellis Type on Yield, Fruit Size, and Economics of Blackberry Production in Georgia

Tissue-culture propagated "Chicksaw" blackberry plants were set four feet apart in April of 2000 as part of a five-year trellising trial near Reidsville, Georgia. There were five treatments: an untrellised control, posts with plastic baling string on both sides, posts and three vertical wires, "raspberry" V trellis, and Limited Arm-Rotation Shift-Trellis (eliminated in 2003). There were four replications with twenty feet for each treatment per replication, for a total of 80 feet per treatment. Primocanes were tipped at 3.5 to four feet and re-tipped several times during the summer when new growth exceeded about 12 inches. Mature plant height at the end of the growing season was about five feet. Starting in the third growing season, yield data was collected from a ten-foot section of each replication. The highest-yielding trellis systems over a three-year period were Post and String and Raspberry V. The Post and String was an inexpensive trellis system, but it was more difficult to remove primocanes. The Raspberry V trellis offered advantages for management and PYO harvest. The Post and Wire trellis yields were not impressive, but it was easier to find all the ripe fruit for distant shipping

Second Year Banana Cultivar Trial in South Georgia

The development of the annual cropping production system (ACP) and more cold-tolerant cultivars has allowed commercial banana production outside the traditional production belt. This evaluation of 32 cultivars was initiated to determine the feasibility and suitability of Annual Cropping Production (ACP) for niche/ethnic markets under Georgia weather conditions; determine the growth performance, fruit quality, and marketability; and determine which cultivars have sufficient cold hardiness for ornamental landscape use

Why Are There Seeds In My Banana? A Look at Ornamental Bananas

In many parts of the world bananas are a staple food, while in other regions they are a highly valued ornamental plant. Bananas are the fourth most important food crop in the world, and they are also used in many other ways—every part of the plant has value. In addition to the standard dessert bananas, there is another group of species in the banana genus that are much less known in the United States but offer some wonderful options as landscape plants. This group of banana species is known as ornamental bananas. This paper sheds some light on ornamental banana cultivars that provide a tropical atmosphere to gardens in the Southeast region of the United States