The University of Rhode Island Vegetable Production Program addresses the needs of all vegetable producers in Rhode Island and surrounding communities. Whether it’s a one quarter acre operation or 400 acres, URI provides the most current science-based information in sustainable and profitable crop production practices to growers through site visits, newsletters, on-farm workshops and more. Our work spans research and Extension, with applied research conducted at the Gardner Crops Research Center (affectionately known as the URI Agronomy Farm) that is then translated for practical application through Cooperative Extension workshops and events.
New Program!
Boots to Bushels (B2B) – Market Garden Training for New England offers veterans, service members, and beginning farmers educational opportunities on a range of topics including fruit and vegetable production, business development, finances, marketing and stress management. Plus, you’ll make connections with local, regional and national resources. Interested in learning more? Email telourenco@uri.edu.
Contact
Program Director, Boots to Bushels - Market Garden Training for New England
Director/ Diagnostician, Plant Diagnostic Laboratory
401-874-2967
PlantLab@uri.edu || Keiddy@uri.edu
Assistant Professor in Controlled Environment Agriculture
401-874-4538
camilo.villouta@uri.edu
Resources For Growers
Grower + Industry Organizations
- Young Farmers Network
- Rhode Island Farm Bureau
- RI Fruit Growers Association
- RI-Raised Livestock Association
- RINLA
- Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT)
- New England Farmers Union
- RI association of conservation districts
- RI Farm Energy Program
- Division of Agriculture-RIDEM
- USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service
- USDA-Rural Development Agency
- USDA-Farm Services Agency
- Farm Credit East
- RI Small Business Development Center
- RI Agricultural Council
- Farm Fresh RI
- RI Resource Conservation and Development Council
- NOFA Rhode Island
- NOFA Massachusetts
- NOFA Connecticut
New England-Wide Resources
University of Connecticut UConn-IPM, Greenhouse ProgramUniversity of Massachusetts Vegetable Program, Fruit Program, Greenhouse program
Annual Events
Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratories
- UConn Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory
- UMass Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory
- UMaine Analytical Lab and Maine Soil Testing Service
- Agro-One, a division of Dairy One- Feed and Forage testing, field crops testing, soil testing
- URI Digital Commons Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station Reports, including vegetable variety trials