Organic fruits and vegetables have become increasingly popular in recent years. There are several skills you should work on if you want to join the healthy eating trend and become an organic farmer. Knowing how to farm isn’t enough; you also need to understand how to get your crops certified as organic. You’ll also need to understand what crops are best for your area and how distribution works.
If you want to be an organic farmer, you must first learn to farm. Growing fruits and vegetables does not require any formal education, but many schools offer agricultural classes and clubs. A number of major universities also offer agricultural technology degrees to help young farmers learn the most up-to-date techniques. Working for a farmer is another way to learn. On a farm, there are many jobs to learn, and it may take several years to master them all, but the experience will help you run your own organic farm.
If you want to be an organic farmer, you need to know what constitutes an organic vegetable or fruit. Because each country has its own set of criteria for what qualifies a product as organic, you should check with your local government’s agricultural department. The United States Department of Agriculture, for example, regulates which pesticides and fertilizers can be used on organic farms.
After you’ve learned about organic farming’s techniques and regulations, you’ll want to learn about which crops thrive in your area. Climate, soil, and growing season all play a role in whether or not an organic crop of herbal plants, vegetables, or fruit will thrive. Just because lemons thrive in one location doesn’t mean asparagus will thrive there as well. If you want to start farming organically, talk to local farmers and the government’s agricultural office to figure out which crops are best for your area.
After you’ve started applying your farming skills to a specific crop of organic produce, you’ll need to sell it somewhere to make a profit. You should research the distribution channels of fruits and vegetables in your area if you want to become an organic farmer. You may be able to sell your products directly to a supermarket, cooperative market, or health food store in many cases. Other farmers can work out a deal with a distributor to sell their products to retail stores.