Garlic In The Field

Pennsylvania

NOAH GRESS

Noah Gress, vegetable grower, has been practicing organic farming since 1993. Inspired by an organic farmer in western Pennsylvania, Noah began an apprenticeship at Solviva Farm in West Tisbury, Massachusetts. After working with the staff for two years, Noah became farm manager. Although the principle crop at Solviva Farm was salad mix, it was there that Noah first grew garlic. In 1998 the young farmer returned to Pennsylvania where he is still farming today. For the last five years, he has been farming at Pete's Produce Farm in Westtown. Noah grows salad mix, carrots, arugala, soybeans and of course garlic. This year the farm grew two thousand pounds. Music is the principle variety cultivated at Pete's. Legacy, Red Russian, Kebar and Persian Star are some of the other varieties grown.

Garlic is a rewarding and a profitable crop. The renewed interest in garlic as an "east coast crop" makes this grant even more exciting. The research will aid growers in distinguishing different types of garlic, which up until now has been the subject of much debate. The decreased yields in California, coupled with imported garlic is encouraging the agricultural community to rethink how and where garlic is grown in the United States. I am grateful to be part of this project. I hope the results provide practical information for the scientist and farmer alike. - Noah