University of Florida Plant Information Growing Pomegranates in Florida: Establishment Costs and Production Practices

FE1024

Pomegranate, native to central Asia and mainly produced in India and Iran, is highly adaptive to a wide range of climates and soil conditions, and can grow in many geographical regions. In the United States, California is the major production area. Pomegranate has long been valued for its high nutritional value. Research shows that pomegranate has marked antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-carcinogenic activities, and has efficacy against a series of human diseases (Viuda-Martos et al. 2010). With increasing awareness of its health benefits, consumers have shown growing interest in consuming pomegranate fruits and juices. In Florida, pomegranate is an emerging, alternative crop to major crops under tremendous competition pressure (e.g., tomato and strawberry) or threatened by serious diseases (e.g., citrus greening). This study provides a description of pomegranate production practices and preliminary cost estimates to inform investment and production decisions when growers look to diversify and grow pomegranate as a niche crop.

1. This is EDIS document FE1024, a publication of the Food and Resource Economics Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Published July 2017. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Feng Wu, research assistant scientist, Food and Resource Economics Department, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Balm, FL; Zhengfei Guan, assistant professor, Food and Resource Economics Department, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Balm, FL; and Gary Vallad, associate professor, Plant Pathology Department, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Balm, FL.