Specialty and Minor Crops Handbook: Reference for Agricultural Extension Professionals and Small-Scale Farmers

The second edition of the "Specialty and Minor Crop Handbook" published in 1998 by the Small Farm Center, University of California, is a great reference for agriculture and horticulture personnel interested in specialty crops. It is also a great resource book for small-scale family farmers interested in producing and marketing specialty crops to various ethnic groups.

The handbook is divided into four major sections specialty and minor crops, glossary of Asian vegetables, annotated bibliography, and index to scientific and common names. The specialty and minor crop section includes 63 crop sheets covering specialty vegetables, culinary herbs, salad greens, specialty fruits, and other crops. The comprehensive annotated bibliography section lists helpful books, useful free publications, recommended trade journals, and seed sources. The final section has an index to scientific and common names of the crops discussed.

A brief introduction, botanical and common names, market information, culture, seed or plant sources, and additional references on all 63 specialty and minor crops are provided in a reader-friendly manner. There is at least one color picture for each of the 63 crops. In many cases, two to three pictures are included to show crops in the field, market, or different parts of the crop. High quality pictures in the handbook are a great resource to readers unfamiliar with these crops.

Some of the Asian vegetables discussed are bok choy, bitter melon, baby corn, nappa cabbage, Chinese water spinach, Chinese broccoli, daikon radish, and yard-long bean. Many popular culinary herbs such as anise, basil, chive, cilantro, fennel, leeks, lemongrasses, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme receive their share of attention as well. Some of the specialty fruits in this handbook include Asian pear, figs, gooseberry, European current, red current, and white currant. There are crop sheets on such salad greens as arugula, Belgian endive, cardoon, endive, radicchio, Swiss chard, and vegetable amaranth. Unique crops such as bottle gourd, jicama, luffa gourd, okra, and prickly pear cactus are discussed in great detail.

Each crop sheet has a brief description of botanical and economical characteristics and origin. In the market information section, authors have done a great job addressing the current production and yield, uses, and nutritional value of these crops. In the culture section, such critical information as climatic requirements, propagation and care, pests and disease, and harvest and post-harvest practices are provided as well. Information in the handbook is easily adapted for other states.

The glossary of Asian vegetables is unique. In addition to common and botanical names, authors list the names of these vegetables in six different languages commonly spoken in Asia to minimize confusion about the crop names. There is also a selected bibliography on specialty and exotic crops. The publications listed include are practical, covering topics such as propagation, nutrition, soil, water, and cultural requirements.

There is an extensive section of reference materials included in the handbook. Authors thoughtfully divided this section into books for your shelf, books from the library, useful free publications, and recommended journals. Some national and California specialty and minor crop seed sources are listed in the handbook. The index to scientific and common names is very straightforward and helpful.

In brief, the Specialty and Minor Crops handbook is a great reference for agricultural and horticultural Extension personnel with interests in specialty crops. Small-scale family farmers will also find it an invaluable tool when they explore the wonderful world of specialty crops. This handbook is definitely worth $35 even though it is more expensive than most Extension publications.

The Specialty and Minor Crop Handbook is 186 pages long with 95 high quality color photos, and carries the University of California Extension publication number 3346. Its ISBN is 1-879906-38-4. This handbook is only available in softcover for $35 per copy (U.S. funds), plus $5 shipping and handling, from the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Communication Services-Publications, 6701 San Pablo Avenue, 2nd Floor, Oakland, California 94608-1239. The handbook can also be ordered by calling 1-800-994-8849 or (510)642-2431 or visiting the web site http://danrcs.ucdavis.edu/.