Santo Cilantro - The Market Standard! Cilantro (a.k.a. Coriander) is a double-duty herb and spice. The seeds, harvested from the matured flowers, are dried and sold whole or ground as the spice coriander, while the leaves are harvested and used both fresh and dried as the herb cilantro. A member of the carrot family, Cilantro has an unmistakable and Tips & Trends for Greenhouse Growers and Garden Center Retailers unforgettable scent. It is strong and sharp and it is either loved or hated. Recent research even suggests that we may have a genetic predisposition to react so strongly to the complex flavor profile. Vegetables 101 A Santo Shift Due to expanding consumer interest in cooking and vegetable gardening, now is the time to add or expand a vegetable line. America’s love affair with cilantro really began to blossom when Many growers have found that adding top-selling vegetable classes like tomatoes and peppers to their ornamentals assortment boosts salsa overtook ketchup as one of the most popular condiments sales and adds product diversity. Due to expanding consumer interest in cooking and vegetable gardening, now is the perfect time to (mayonnaise often beats them both…). It was the first wide-reaching add a vegetable line. But where do you begin? Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, and cool season varieties are use of the herb here and spurred the increase of cilantro use in all Among other trendy greens, cilantro stands above and Santo is considered a good start. Consider the recommendations below: today’s market standard. types of ethnic cooking. More and more growers are packaging fresh cilantro, along with other trendy greens like arugula and mint, to fulfill the demand MATCH YOUR TOMATO CHOICES to the consumers you are targeting. There created by chef-inspired recipes. The most basic packaging is bunched, where the cut product is simply tied and stacked for sale next are almost as many tomato varieties as there are gardeners! If you sell plants into a to bunch parsley. However, Cilantro is a great baby leaf item as well. Producers of salad blends in cello packs are starting to add baby rural or suburban area where people have more space, then 6-packs of traditional leaf cilantro for a bold flavor component. It is also now a staple choice available to home gardeners in starter plants (usually 4” pots) indeterminate (tall, continuously setting) tomato plants are a must. If your customers and in seed packets (an ideal choice for successive sowings). are more likely to have only decks or balconies to work with you want to be sure to include shorter, earlier determinate plant types. In a fairly traditional market you’ll need Growing Demand beefsteak and red cherry fruit types. A more experimental consumer will be interested According to most recent USDA statistics, the harvested acreage of commercially grown cilantro in California alone has increased from in more diverse fruit colors and shapes. Try adding Sweet Treats pink cherry tomato – 3,519 acres (28,347 short tons worth $16.8 million) in 1996 to 6,483 acres (44,193 short tons worth $25.3 million) in 2011. ‘Santo’ the winner of taste-tests across America. is considered today’s market standard variety. Commercial growers and hobby gardeners alike find it the top choice for fast-growing, yet remarkably slow-bolting plants that produce highly aromatic leaves with strong flavor. A uniform, sturdy selection with broad leaves PEPPERS ARE A MUST and every good vegetable line needs a great green-to-red bell and an upright habit, it is sturdier than standard strains. Multiple cuts can be made under long days, providing maximum yields. pepper like Red Bull. Large fruit and early maturity are big selling points for gardeners. Jalapeños are pretty standard in most parts of the country (salsa sales surpassed ketchup Santo grows best in warm weather and full sun to develop the highest level of aromatic oils. It will, though, perform well in cooler a few years back). Look for an early variety that sets well; fruit should be large and have temperatures too and can be successively sown every few weeks from last frost in spring into late fall. As cilantro plants are sensitive Many growers have found that adding top-selling a thick wall. Jalafuego fits the bill and is the hottest on the market! Snacking peppers vegetable classes like tomatoes and peppers to to transplanting, the simplest way to grow is to direct seed. Baby leaves can be harvested in as little as 55 days and fully grown plants or mini sweet bells are a popular trend right now. Poblanos are mildly hot peppers that their ornamentals assortment boosts sales and adds can be cut when 12-16” tall, or in about 90 days. product diversity. Try compact, but super productive, are easy to grow and used fresh in chili, filled with cheese and baked or preserved for Red Robin tomato. Just the Facts: winter use. • Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum MANY HOME GARDENERS LOOK FOR HERBS. Herbs found in stores are never • Fast-growing, slow-bolting strain as fresh and flavorful as those grown at home and eaten right after harvest. Basil, dill, • Suitable for multiple harvests cilantro and parsley are some of the most popular. Healthier looking plants given • Broad, dark green, flat, toothed leaves a little extra time to mature will sell the best. Herbs are a popular container item - • Harvestable for baby leaf at 55-60 days and bunch at 90-95 days many consumers will pay a few dollars more for a larger pot that they won’t need • Use leaves as cilantro and seeds as coriander to transplant. • Organic and non-organic seed offered A more experimental consumer will be interested INSTANT GRATIFICATION! Crops like pumpkin, squash, cucumber and melon in more diverse fruit colors and shapes. Try adding are easy to grow from seed but many gardeners prefer the instant gratification they get Sweet Treats pink cherry tomato–the winner of taste- Did you know? from a plant. Many plants in this category need other plants for pollen so sell them in tests across America. Sakata’s leafy greens are adaptable to most growing conditions and are 4 or 6-inch pots. Urban gardeners will want bush- type smaller plants while consumers easy and fast-growing for quick turnaround? Many selections are brightly with more space will be more concerned about fruit size and set. These types of colored and multi-textured. Varieties have been selected for heat & plants grow very quickly so they won’t require as much lead time as the peppers and bolting tolerance, vigor, and yield, and are eye-catching alone or when tomatoes. They can get tall and leggy fast so plan a few extra sowing dates or try a few combined with flowering plants. sample plants to test timing. FOR A WELL-ROUNDED PRODUCT LINE you’ll want to include some cool-season crops. Cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are popular transplant items. These crops are slow to mature in the cool fall or spring months so your customers will appreciate the head start healthy plants will give them. To further enhance your cool www.sakatavegetables.com season line, spinach, kale, lettuce and arugula are easy additions. Look for “bolt-tolerant” Follow Us! or “bolt-resistant” varieties to ensure your customers have the most successful harvest. Basil, dill, cilantro and parsley are some of the most popular herbs. Santo cilantro is a top seller. © 2014 Sakata Seed America, Inc. Vegetables for Small is early and productive. As one of the Notes for Retailers Vegetables in the possibilities see page 29 of the Sakata hottest jalapeños on the market, a few Small space gardeners may not be Home Grown Catalog. Space Gardening fruit go a long way. For folks looking for used to buying vegetables so be sure to Landscape: Plants in FLOWER BEDS can be another great A small garden space should not be a a milder heat, offer Cheyenne cayenne place some “grab and go” containers in for fresh cooking or drying. your customer’s yard place to fit in edibles. Many cooks like limiting factor! Sakata Home Grown high traffic areas. In addition to these can be pretty and taste to have herbs close at hand and plant a wants to see veggie plants in every For gardeners with a little more containers, there should be some lower few plants right outside the kitchen door. priced options, for example 4-inch pots possible space, so we put together space be sure to offer some compact good, too! Basil, dill, and cilantro are all best eaten a list of themes and varieties to help. pumpkins and squash. Kids will love that people can easily transplant on fresh- why not encourage customers to their own. There are many ways to grow edibles Vegetable gardening has become a Rockafellow. Rockafellow pumpkin sets when space or resources are limited. plant them a few steps from the kitchen? popular trend in recent years as consumers 2-3 lb pumpkins on a semi-determinate Also, offer good care instructions— Encourage consumers to look at their Kale, Swiss chard, and turnip greens all cut back on travel and dining out. Many vine in about 95 days. Tivoli is another vegetables can require more care in small landscape with new eyes; every little have very large ornamental leaves that people have turned to vegetable gardening great choice. This medium-large AAS spaces than they would in a traditional open spot might be an opportunity for look nice planted under tall flowering as a leisure activity and a source for fresh, winning spaghetti squash has a bush garden setting.