Question
What is one of those missing or weak links for vegetables and fruit?
Answer
Vegetables and fruit, also known as specialty crops, must be distributed quickly once harvested. However, if there is cold storage available, the shelf life can be extended but often the grower does not have the capacity for on-the-farm cold storage. Likewise, specialty crops can be turned into “value-added” products such as tomatoes into salsas, but they must have a certified commercial kitchen or canner to do that. There are few commercial kitchens available for rent 24/7 and almost no canneries in the state.