Assessing Profitability of Selected Specialty Crops Grown In High Tunnels

Abstract

Increased interest in farming and small farms, leads to the question of their potential profitability. Small farms are using high tunnels to expand production opportunities and increase sustainability and profitability. High tunnels are season extension production systems that allow earlier planting and harvest before outdoor grown produce depresses prices. The profitability of high tunnels and their effect on land values and market size were determined using production records and budgets for strawberries, tomatoes and squash. The analysis shows that even when land values are high, tunnel production units are profitable, provided the produce is out-of-season and sold at farmers' markets.