Palm Beach County produces vegetable crops on nearly 83,000 acres, with an annual production valued at more than $400 million[1], making it the leading vegetable‑producing county east of the Mississippi River.
The county supplies a major share of the nation's winter vegetables, including sweet corn, lettuce, celery, radishes, cabbage, snap beans, bell peppers, and herbs, thanks to its subtropical climate. This production system is strongly shaped by soil type: rich organic muck soils in western Palm Beach County support large-scale production of leafy vegetables and sweet corn while sandy soils in
eastern Palm Beach County are well suited for high-value fruiting vegetables. However, the same climate that enables robust vegetable harvests from the fall through the spring also fosters intense insect, disease, and weed pressures, creating daily pest‑management challenges for growers.
Proximity to international ports of entry increases the
risk of invasive exotic species, making early detection and strong stakeholder collaboration essential for preventing establishment and managing emerging threats. Additionally,
soil conservation and water quality remain major environmental concerns in southern Florida, highlighting the need for research‑based fertilization and irrigation strategies that reduce environmental impacts while meeting regulatory requirements. Fresh‑market vegetable growers also face stringent
food safety mandates, including compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act, creating a continuous demand for educational programs to ensure regulatory compliance. Finally, emerging technologies such as AI-driven ultra-high precision sprayers have been entering the marketplace, necessitating unbiased Extension guidance to support informed adoption and implementation by growers.
Commercial Vegetable Production:
For more resources, please visit the Commercial Vegetable Production website:
https://commercialveg.ifas.ufl.edu/