STU JOHNSON

CREDIT UKY.EDU

Over the last decade, Kentucky tomato production has shifted from the field to the house.  That’s in line with two events last week offered by the Agritech company AppHarvest.

University of Kentucky Extension Vegetable Specialist Rachel Rudolph says the state’s ag census shows open field tomato production went from just over 900 acres in 2012 to just under 200 acres in 2017.  But, Rudolph says greenhouse tomato production has grown 30% over the same period. “Per square foot people are probably producing more in the greenhouse than they would be able to outdoors, or high tunnel.  Greenhouse or high tunnel compared to the outdoors, especially when we’re talking about marketable yield.”

High tunnels, or hoop houses, are unheated greenhouses.  Rudolph says there are over 1000 high tunnels across Kentucky.  AppHarvest opened a large 60 acre greenhouse near Morehead and announced another similar project for Madison County last week.

University of Kentucky Extension Horticulture Specialist Garrett Owen expects controlled environment specialty crop production to continue to blossom across the Commonwealth.  Owen said growers now have the ability to tweak the flavor of fruit and vegetable crops like tomatoes.

Weku’s Stu Johnson had a conversation with UK Extension Horticulture Specialists Rachel Ruldolph and Garrett Owen on Friday.:

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