Vegetable farmers in Oregon’s Willamette Valley face growing pressure to stay profitable. Labor shortages, high costs and new regulations have added challenges for producers already competing with low-priced imports.
At the same time, acreage in processed vegetables has declined as consumer demand shifts toward fresh, locally grown foods and herbs. Farmers need new crop options that fit their production systems and changing markets.
In response, Oregon State University Extension Service launched research to evaluate Asian herbs and vegetables as alternative crops for Western Oregon. The project was led by Kristine Buckland, associate professor and Extension vegetable and specialty seed crop specialist and associate professor in the Department of Horticulture in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
This research conducted at NWREC underscores OSU Extension’s broader role in developing and promoting specialty crops that fit local production systems and respond to diverse consumer demand.
At OSU’s North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) in Aurora and Lewis-Brown Farm in Corvallis, researchers tested tulsi (holy basil), ashwagandha, mizuna, gai lan, and daikon radish.
Tulsi trials found similar yields from hand and machine harvests, showing potential to reduce labor costs without sacrificing quality. Ashwagandha trials found high germination rates in untreated seed and promising root yields when grown with cover crops.
The project also assessed market opportunities. Surveys of herbal practitioners across the U.S. found that nearly 90% would prescribe domestically grown herbs if quality and freshness were assured. Practitioners cited contamination risk as a top concern and expressed interest in bulk, minimally processed herbs that move quickly to market.
These findings help connect Oregon farmers with new market channels and provide culturally relevant foods and herbs for local communities. Oregon’s growing Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations rely heavily on imported herbs and produce. Local production can reduce supply chain risk, support farm profitability and strengthen the region’s agricultural diversity.
OSU Extension publications and outreach provide resources for growers who want to explore these new crops. Medicinal Herb Production in the Pacific Northwest offers detailed guidance on crop selection, quality standards and market context.
Buckland’s broader program also includes alternative crop research on quinoa, which has led to new production guidelines, on-farm trials and collaboration with international partners to improve processing efficiency.
Heidi Noordijk, Extension metro small farms outreach program coordinator. also works at NWREC on projects that spotlight vegetables for new markets. Through collaborations with efforts like the Culinary Breeding Network, Noordijk helps showcase regionally adapted crops to growers, chefs and buyers.
This parallel work at NWREC underscores OSU Extension’s broader role in developing and promoting specialty crops that fit local production systems and respond to diverse consumer demand.
These collective efforts help Oregon farmers adapt to shifting markets, strengthen local economies and expand access to high-quality, locally grown herbs and vegetables.
Funding for Buckland’s research has come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
Originally published at https://extension.oregonstate.edu/impact/osu-extension-aids-vegetable-farmers-exploring-asian-crops
Specialty Seed Growers of Western Oregon 