Conference proceeding
Economic Profitability of Producing Tomato and Lettuce in Western Washington under Open-Field and High-Tunnel Production Systems (c)
Acta horticulturae, Vol.1085(1085), pp.353-353
Acta Horticulturae
06/15/2015
Abstract
Lettuce and tomato are popular warm-season, fresh market vegetable crops grown in western Washington and both are produced in open-field and high-tunnel production systems. The objectives of this study were to examine the economic feasibility of growing lettuce and tomato under both production systems by comparing their economic potential and identifying the main factors affecting profitability within each production system. Data for this study were collected through focus groups of experienced tomato and lettuce growers in western Washington. Costs of production varied by crop and production system. The findings indicated that it was five times more costly to grow lettuce and eight times more costly to grow tomato in a high-tunnel than in the open-field system in western Washington. Labor per square foot of growing area was found to be greater in a high-tunnel operation than in the open field. Total labor cost comprised more than 50% of the total production costs of lettuce and tomato in both the high-tunnel and open-field systems. As a percentage of total production cost, total labor cost was similar in both the high-tunnel and open-field production of lettuce, but higher in high-tunnel tomato production than in open-field tomato production. Tunnel-grown lettuce and tomato had three and four times greater marketable yield compared to field-grown, respectively. Given the base crop yield and average price, it was 43% more profitable to grow lettuce in the open-field than in the high-tunnel system, while in contrast, high-tunnel-grown tomato was three times more profitable than open-field tomato production.
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Details
- Title
- Economic Profitability of Producing Tomato and Lettuce in Western Washington under Open-Field and High-Tunnel Production Systems (c)
- Creators
- Suzette P. Galinato - Washington State Univ, Sch Econ Sci, IMPACT Ctr, POB 646210,Hulbert Hall 101, Pullman, WA 99164 USACarol A. Miles - Washington State Univ, Sch Econ Sci, IMPACT Ctr, POB 646210,Hulbert Hall 101, Pullman, WA 99164 USA
- Contributors
- C W Heuser (Editor)
- Publication Details
- Acta horticulturae, Vol.1085(1085), pp.353-353
- Academic Unit
- College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
- Series
- Acta Horticulturae
- Publisher
- Int Soc Horticultural Science
- Number of pages
- 1
- Identifiers
- 99901180275801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding