Apr 18, 2023

PVGA urges renewing Pennsylvania vegetable marketing program

The Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association (PVGA) is recommending Keystone State growers to renew the Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program (PVMRP).

In an April 15 email to members and others, the Richfield, Pennsylvania, organization recommended growers vote yes on the program is undergoing a required five-year review referendum. In the process, growers are given the opportunity to vote on the program’s continuation.

“Naturally, the Program Board and PVGA encourage you to vote ‘Yes’ to continue the Program,” PVGA leaders said in the email. PVGA cited its letter to growers and quotes from other industry people supporting the program’s continuation.
PVMRP ‘s 2022 annual report issue of Fresh Ideas is available here.
Growers who grow one or more acres of vegetables in Pennsylvania for sale or ones who grow 1,000 square feet or more of greenhouse or high tunnel vegetables for sale or those who grow and sell $2,000 worth of vegetables are by law part of the program and eligible to vote, according to PVGA. Growers who do not receive assessment notices and Fresh Ideas from the program in the mail can read introductory grower information here.

Those with questions can contact the program at 717-694-3596 or [email protected]. Interested eligible growers who haven’t received ballots in the mail can contact Holly Zarefoss at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-783-8461 or [email protected].

Ballots must be mailed and postmarked by May 3.

“The Vegetable Marketing and Research Program exists to serve Pennsylvania growers by promoting Pennsylvania vegetables and funding practical vegetable production research,” PVGA said in the email. The PA Veggies website offers vegetable recipes, how to prepare videos, informational blogs for consumers and grower/market directories. It also offers a wealth of grower resources – promotional information and graphics that you, as a grower, can use in your social media or printed promotional pieces. Consumers love checklists. Among other useful images, we’ve created “How To” lists like the one below for 14 popular summer crops.”