Horticulture Science Lesson 105 Organic Production of Fruits and Vegetables

Horticulture Science Lesson 105

Organic Production of Fruits and Vegetables

Horticulture Science Lesson 105

Organic Production of Fruits and Vegetables

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Interest ApproachInterest ApproachBring to class a selection of fruits and vegetables purchased at a supermarket. Bring both organically grown and nonorganically grown produce of the same variety. Ask the students if they can discern any differences between the fruits and vegetables of the same varieties. Announce that some are organically grown. Then, ask the students what that means.


Student Learning ObjectivesStudent Learning Objectives•Define organic agriculture/horticulture.

•Examine the principles behind organic agriculture/horticulture.


Student Learning ObjectivesStudent Learning Objectives•Describe practices that support organic production systems.

•Discuss the marketing of organic fruits and vegetables.


TermsTerms• allelopathy• biodiversity• biologicals• botanicals• direct markets• ecosystem• indirect markets


TermsTerms

• organic agriculture/horticulture• pheromones• soaps• sustainable agriculture• synthetic


What is organic agriculture/horticulture?

• Organic agriculture/horticulture has rapidly grown in recent years at rates of around 20 percent annually. – The main reason for this is an increased

consumer demand for organic foods.

• As stated by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), organic agriculture/horticulture is “an ecological management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity.



• It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, or enhance ecological harmony.

• The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals, and people.



• 1. Organic agriculture/horticulture was the earliest form of agriculture and has been practiced for thousands of years.– Following World War II, which ended in 1945, new

technologies were applied to agricultural/horticultural production.

– While some of the new technologies produced economic benefits, they were also detrimental to the environment.



• 2. Organic agriculture/horticulture involves the application of beneficial technologies, such as precision farming, new crop varieties, and efficient machinery. – At the same time, it rejects the use of synthetic

fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and genetically modified organisms.

– Synthetic means made or prepared artificially.– a. Instead of synthetic fertilizers, growers use

crop rotation, cover crops, and compost to provide soil fertility.

– b. Rather than synthetic pesticides, growers rely on biological, cultural, and physical controls to manage pest populations.



• Congress passed the Organic Food Production Act (OFPA) in 1990. – The purpose was to regulate the organic system

of farming. – It requires that anyone selling products as

organic must follow a set of approved practices. – Rules under the OFPA were revised and released

in 2001.

• In 2002, the USDA began enforcing national standards for foods labeled as organic.



• 1. There are four different types of labeling for organic foods.– a. A food labeled as “100% Organic” must

contain 100 percent organically produced ingredients.

– b. A food labeled as “Organic” must contain at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients.

– c. A food labeled as “Made with Organic Ingredients” must contain at least 70 percent organically produced ingredients.

– d. A food that contains more than 30 percent organically produced ingredients may be labeled as containing some organic ingredients.


• 2. The USDA Organic Seal may be applied to the labels of products that contain 95 percent organic materials or that contain 100 percent organic materials.

• Food products promoted and sold as organic must have been produced on land on which no synthetic chemical inputs were applied for three years before harvest.

What are the principles behind organic agriculture/horticulture?

• Organic agriculture/horticulture is characterized by biodiversity, integration, sustainability, natural plant nutrition, natural pest management, and integrity.

• Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms on the earth. – It includes the variability within and between

species and within and between ecosystems.

• An ecosystem is a community of living (biotic) organisms in a nonliving (abiotic) physical environment. – An ecosystem with a high level of diversity tends

to be much more stable than an ecosystem with a small number of species.


• 1. Farms that have biodiversity have greater numbers of beneficial organisms that assist with pollination, pest management, and soil health. – Biodiversity in the soil translates to better

nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, tilth, and disease suppression.

• 2. Some practices used to promote diversity include intercropping, crop rotation, and establishment of beneficial habitats.


• Organic farming practices are often designed to integrate various practices. – A common method of integration involves

livestock and crops. – As an example, forage legumes used in a crop

rotation are used to feed the livestock. – The manure from the livestock is used to fertilize

the soil.


• Sustainable agriculture is one strategy adopted by people in agriculture that considers ecology, among other things. – The term was first addressed in the 1990 Farm

Bill.

• Sustainable agriculture encompasses farming systems capable of maintaining their productivity and usefulness to society forever.

• A number of objectives are associated with sustainable agriculture.


• Over the long term, plant and animal production practices in a sustainable agriculture farming system should do the following:– 1. Enhance environmental quality and the natural

resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends

– 2. Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls

– 3. Satisfy human food and fiber needs– 4. Sustain the economic viability of farm

operations– 5. Enhance the quality of life for farmers and

society as a whole


• Natural plant nutrition begins with the proper care and management of organisms within the soil system. – Belief is that the use of synthetic chemicals and certain

practices, such as excessive tillage, harm the soil organisms.

• Natural pest management involves the management of weeds, insects, and diseases.

• 1. It is believed that in a healthy, balanced production system, pests and diseases are naturally controlled. – For instance, certain weeds become a problem only when

the soil is too acidic or too alkaline. – Other weeds predominate when the soil is compacted.


• 2. Furthermore, it is believed that a biologically diverse ecosystem has natural predators that keep plant pests under control.

• 3. Crop rotation also plays a large role in reducing weeds, insects, and diseases.– An example of an eight-year crop rotation is as

follows: Irish potatoes— squash—root crops—beans—tomatoes—peas—cabbage—sweet corn—Irish potatoes.

– A four-year rotation might cycle from leaf crops—fruit crops—root crops—legumes.



• Integrity refers to the assurance that the consumers of organic products get what they pay for.

• Consumers have a right to expect that organic food be produced by organic methods without contamination from commingling with nonorganic products.

What are some practices that support organic production

systems?• Organic producers follow a number of

practices that support their organic production systems.

• Soil health and pest management practices rank among the most important.

• Soil health is the basis for all organic production systems. – A major goal of organic farmers is to maintain the

biological health and fertility of the soil. – Microbial populations within the soil are essential

for nutrient cycles.


systems?• A number of practices promote soil health.• 1. Crop rotation results in the addition of

nutrients, such as nitrogen from legume crops. – Crop rotation contributes to the carbon biomass

necessary for microorganisms.


systems?• 2. The soil may be amended with naturally mined

lime, compost, and manure.– Composting stabilizes manure by mixing nitrogen-

containing materials with carbon containing materials. – The preferred carbon to nitrogen ratio is 30:1. – Temperatures within the compost must be maintained at

131° to 170°F (55° to 77°C) for 15 days, and the pile must be turned five times during that period.

• 3. Fish emulsion and seaweed materials are used to supply nitrogen and other nutrients. – Rock phosphate and potassium chloride are fertilizers used

to supply phosphorus and potassium.

What are some

practices that

support organic

production systems?


systems?• Organic producers follow an integrated pest

management program. • Producers rely on cultural controls, physical

or mechanical controls, biological controls, and nonsynthetic chemical controls.

• 1. Pest management begins with prevention. – As a cultural control, varieties are carefully selected

that are resistant to insects and diseases. – Another cultural control is sanitation, which

involves the removal of diseased or heavily infested materials from the field.

– Only pest-free seeds and transplants are planted.


systems?• 2. Physical control includes the practice of covering

crops to prevent insects from reaching them. – Physical control of weeds is done primarily through

cultivation.

• 3. Organic producers rely heavily on natural enemies to control pest populations as part of biological control strategies. – Parasitic insects and diseases may be introduced to crops

exhibiting pest damage or disease symptoms. – Predatory insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings, and

spiders control some harmful pests. – A naturally occurring bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, can

be used to control caterpillars.


systems?• Other pest management strategies include

minerals, botanicals, soaps, pheromones, and biologicals.– a. Minerals include sulfur, copper, diatomaceous

earth, and clay-based materials, like Surround®.– b. Botanicals are naturally occurring chemicals

extracted from plants. • Some more common botanicals are

rotenone, neem, and pyrethrum.


systems?– c. Soaps are fatty acids that can be used to

control a wide range of plant pests. • Small, soft-bodied arthropods, such as aphids,

mealybugs, psyllids, and spider mites, are most susceptible to soaps.

• Soaps are easy to use, safe, and selective.

– d. Pheromones are chemicals or sets of chemicals produced by living organisms that transmit messages to other members of the same species.

• Pheromones can be used as a means to confuse and disrupt pests during their mating cycles or to draw them into traps.


systems?– e. Biologicals are certain types of pesticides

derived from natural materials, such as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals.

• Biopesticides present some of the greatest hope for organic control of highly destructive pests.

• Among the best-known biopesticides are the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) formulations that control lepidopterous pests and the Colorado potato beetle.

Colorado potato beetle


systems?• 4. Weeds are controlled in a variety of ways. • Tactics include cultivation, mulching, flame

burning, and allelopathic crops.– a. Well-timed cultivation successfully controls

many weed species.– b. Mulching is a common practice used to control

weeds. • Organic mulch should be spread to a depth of 2 to 4

inches. • Besides controlling weeds, mulch keeps soil

temperatures uniform, keeps soil moisture even, and contributes to the organic-matter content of the soil.


systems?– c. Propane flame burning is effective when used

along with cultivation practices. • It is especially useful when regular and abundant

rainfalls have kept the soil moist.

– d. Allelopathy is the inhibition of growth in one species of plant by chemicals produced in another species.

• Rye and oats have allelopathic properties that inhibit weed establishment.

What is involved in the marketing of organic fruits and vegetables?

• Organic fruits and vegetables have become common in grocery stores around the country.

• As the organic farming segment has grown, marketing strategies have effectively increased to promote consumer awareness.

• Organic fruits and vegetables are marketed directly or indirectly.


• 1. Direct markets include roadside stands, farmers’ markets, and community supported farms. – A client of a community-

supported farm purchases a share in the farm’s production and receives about 15 pounds of produce a week.

• 2. Indirect markets include wholesale markets, such as cooperatives, wholesalers, and brokers.


• Organic produce typically receives premium prices.

• 1. Consumers of organic fruits and vegetables pay anywhere between 20 and 400 percent more for organic products than they would for conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.

• 2. The prices fluctuate with the seasons. – Prices for organic fruits and vegetables are less

during the growing season than during winter months.

Review/SummaryReview/Summary•What is organic agriculture/horticulture?

•What are the principles behind organic agriculture/horticulture?

Review/SummaryReview/Summary•What are some practices that support organic production systems?

•What is involved in the marketing of organic fruits and vegetables?

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Horticulture Science Lesson 105 Organic Production of Fruits and Vegetables