US: Households could save thousands of dollars by growing own fresh produce

Newly released data from Burpee, the first research-based seed company in the U.S., suggests individuals and families could save thousands of grocery dollars in 2014 by growing their own fresh produce at home.

“Our data shows that by purchasing seeds and plants in the early spring, and planting a typical mix of vegetables, gardeners can expect to yield significant amounts of fresh and tasty produce that would cost much more to purchase in a grocery store, even if it was available at such a high level of quality,” says Chelsey Fields, fruit and vegetable product manager at Burpee.

Fields notes that at a conservative 80 percent germination rate, a $5.95 retail packet of slicing tomato seeds would yield a harvest of 630 pounds of flavor-packed fruit that would cost $2,028.60 if bought at an average supermarket. A $5.95 retail packet of cherry tomato seeds produces 240 pounds of fresh orbs that would cost an estimated $494.80 at the grocery store.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) data*, tomatoes, potatoes, head lettuce, romaine and leaf lettuce, and bell peppers are among the most commonly consumed vegetables in the United States. Apples, bananas and watermelons are the three most popular fruits. Burpee data compared the cost of vegetable and fruit seeds to the value of total harvest weight, using average prices per pound from three U.S. supermarkets in January 2014. Burpee’s 2014 sales show that the most popular garden vegetables this year are tomatoes, herbs, corn and squash.

Gardeners can find Burpee’s new vegetable varieties, including ‘SteakHouse’ tomatoes at www.burpee.com/new-for-2014/.

Source: www.heraldonline.com