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Enterprise Selection: Annual Crops

Summary

Annual cropping systems include vegetables, grains, legumes, oilseed crops, herbs, and flowers. These are often grown as primary cash crops on a small farm or as part of an integrated farm. Challenges of annual cropping systems include pest, weather, and disease problems as well as labor and marketing. Annual crop production becomes especially labor intensive during spring and summer. Most annual crops are marketed directly through farmers’ markets, farm stands, retail stores, restaurants, community-supported agriculture (CSA), and U-pick operations. The benefits of annual cropping systems include steady annual cash flow and high-value return.