These two guides—the Northeast Crop Production Manual and the Northeast Harvest Manual—provide in-depth information on the production, harvest and post-harvest handling of dozens of common specialty crops. The production manual includes tips on planning rotations, preparing the soil, planting and transplanting, and managing pests. The harvest manual addresses the timing and methods for harvesting crops, along with post-harvest handling and storage considerations.
These guides were first developed by Jean-Paul Courtens of Roxbury Farm, in Kinderhook, N.Y, to provide guidance for his workers and apprentices. Over time he revised and expanded them, incorporating the input of dozens of other Northeastern farmers. They are most useful for organic farmers in the Northeast, and also for farmers in other parts of the country with a similar four-season climate. Learn more about the development of these manuals.
The pages for most of the crops listed below include information on both production and harvest/post-harvest practices, but please note that some crops have only one or the other.
The publications are also available as PDFs:
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This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.