University Farm produces a bumper crop of vegetables, donations

More projects, more staff and more high tunnels led to a bumper crop — and record donations — at the University Farm in 2021. 

The farm has produced more than 21,500 pounds of cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, Swiss chard, peppers and other vegetables so far this year. That’s roughly double the harvest in a typical year. 

“This was a remarkable record-breaking year for us,” said John Kimes, the horticulture unit coordinator who oversees all of the farm’s growing projects. 

Kimes said three factors contributed to the farm’s record haul. 

The farm used more high tunnels — eight this year versus five in prior years. Though high tunnels lack the fans, heaters and other climate-control devices commonly found in greenhouses, these plastic-covered structures, also known as hoop houses, still give crops protection from wind, rain and other foul weather and allow for longer growing seasons. 

“When you get it in a high tunnel, you can really crank out some produce,” Kimes said. 

With more high tunnels this year, the University Farm had more space for more projects. Because several of those projects involved growing plants vertically, there were more crops being grown. A high tunnel can usually accommodate about 200 cucumber plants when they’re allowed to grow along the ground, Kimes said. One 2021 project that let grew cucumbers up managed to squeeze 850 plants into that same space. 

Also new in 2021: The University Farm added two additional graduate students to its eight-person horticulture staff. That meant there were more hands to do more work, Kimes said. 

“As a research farm, not only are we trying to help out farmers,” Kimes said, “we’re also trying to educate the next generation of farmers at the university.” 

As in past years, the university farm has donated nearly all of the produce — 98.5 percent of it, or 21,541 pounds as of mid-September — to organizations that distribute food throughout the community. 

The bulk of this year’s harvest — nearly 16,000 pounds — went to Share the Harvest of Guilford County, which gives away fresh produce in Greensboro and High Point. 

The bumper crop meant that local food pantries served more clients than they normally would, said Linda Anderson, chair of the nonprofit Share the Harvest. Plus, she added, the just-picked produce from the University Farm is fresher than what people can get at the store. 

“We really appreciate what A&T does,” Anderson said. “It’s phenomenal.” 

Other recipients of A&T’s produce donations in 2021 were Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, which opened a satellite distribution center in east Greensboro in April; New Light Missionary Baptist Church; and Bread of Life Food Pantry. 

All four recipients of food from the University Farm have operations in east Greensboro near the university. That’s important, Kimes said. 

“Giving back to organizations in the community just shows how much we are invested in the community,” he added. “It demonstrates that we’re here for the long haul.” 

DID YOU KNOW? 

N.C. A&T is using the most high tunnels in research in North Carolina, according to Kimes. The University Farm currently has nine high tunnels, but didn’t use one this year to give the soil a chance to recover. 

High tunnels have proven so successful that the University Farm plans to add five more. Kimes said construction is scheduled to start in October, and all five will be covered in plastic sheeting by March. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

A glance at the amount of produce, in pounds, grown at the University Farm and donated to four community organizations in 2021. Numbers are as of Sept. 13 and have been rounded. 

• Cucumbers: 6,285 pounds
• Tomatoes: 4,429
• Eggplant: 3,013
• Cherry tomatoes: 2,549
• Swiss chard: 1,199
• Peppers: 1,118
• Collards: 905
• Pak choi: 806
• Kale: 418
• Lettuce heads: 417
• Turnip greens: 174
• Turnips: 130
• Beet greens: 77
• Jalapenos: 21

Total: 21,541 pounds