Alternative Crops Form Niche Market
Alternative crop specialist Dr. Nadine Burton is growing specialty crops and organic traditional vegetables for comparison at UMES’ Research, Extension and Teaching Farm.
“An alternative crop for us is one that is grown in place of another crop. For example, kale and collards don’t grow well here on the Eastern Shore in the summer because of the heat, humidity and insect pressure, but a tropical crop like amaranth or jute leaf will,” Burton said.
Better yet, they are also considered value-added because “they can generate more money than a traditional crop,” she said.
Seven years ago, Burton created a program to help small-scale farmers learn about crop options to meet consumer demand in regional niche markets based on her research.
“Farmers were intrigued. They recognized the potential for increasing their farm incomes but didn’t know how to come by the specialty crops,” Burton said. “My job is to identify crops that can be grown alternatively with potential for high economic value, educate farmers on cultivating them in the region and tie them into markets.”
A group of producers Burton initiated now hovers around 70 with about 25 having participated for multiple years. The extension researcher said that in fall 2025, the farmers’ alliance sold roughly 12,000 pounds of fresh produce per week to suppliers, including the Maryland Food Bank.
“It demonstrates that small-scale farmers can be profitable with as little as 1-2 acres with specific value-added crops — the reason for the focus of our work,” Burton said.
Growing alternative crops addresses local food security as some consumers may not have access to the food they are accustomed to and desire, Burton explained. With local farmers growing these crops, she said, the product is fresh, not shipped in from overseas.
It also makes an economic impact in the area. Burton and student interns research the intensity of the labor and cost of growing the crops in comparison to traditional crops. Over the past two years, Burton also has shared her findings with a select group of beginning producers through an annual Alternative Crop Class. Compared to a stand-alone workshop, the yearlong opportunity provides more classroom learning followed by practical training on their farms, Burton said.
“We aim to find a new crop to introduce each season. They are studied for two to three years to validate what grows well in the area because conditions like temperature and rainfall can vary each year,” she said. The seeds are harvested and rooted so they can be shared to help farmers get started.
Source : umes.edu