Ginger

Available Languages:

English

Publications

Ginger, Galangal, and Turmeric Production in Florida

Paul Fisher, Rosanna Freyre, Celina Gómez, Brian Pearson, Tatiana Sanchez-Jones, Shawn Steed, Wanda Laughlin, Robert Hochmuth, Jeff Wasielewski, Deah Lieurance, Carrie Harmon, Mathews Paret, Lance Osborne, Kevin Athearn, Steven Sargent, Mengzi Zhang

Ginger, galangal, and turmeric (Figure 1) are emerging crops for Florida production. All of these plants are in the Zingiberaceae family and share most aspects of their production. This publication describes production in containers or the field under Florida conditions to help guide growers interested in ginger, turmeric, and galangal production or expanding their market. All species have been evaluated by the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas (UF/IFAS Assessment) using the Predictive Tool (an invasion risk assessment) and all present a low risk of invasion in Florida (https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu).

Designs for Small-Scale Postharvest Washing of Ginger/Turmeric Rhizomes

Jacob Muller, Daniel Crawford, Raúl Cabezón, Harrison Meekins, Maria Paz Kinslow, Wanda Laughlin, Robert Hochmuth, and Paul Fisher

Manually washing the rhizomes of ginger and turmeric is a labor-intensive process that adds significantly to the cost of final harvested products. Commercially available automatic cleaning equipment makes the postharvest process easier, but only at a price and scale that would benefit large-scale operations. Our objective was to design and test rhizome cleaning equipment aimed at small farmers and to compare this with manual cleaning. This publication describes tips for harvest and presents designs of cleaning equipment that are easy for a small farmer to build and maintain while reducing labor costs.

Potential Markets for Florida Ginger

Kevin Athearn, Jonathan Adam Watson, Paul Fisher, Maria Paz Kinslow, Marina Burani-Arouca, Brian Pearson, and Celina Gómez

This publication explores the potential markets for ginger (Zingiber officinale) grown in Florida, focusing on opportunities in fresh produce, food and beverage ingredients, and nursery markets. Ginger is widely used in a variety of culinary dishes and wellness products, primarily consumed as the rhizome, or ginger root. The US fresh produce market for ginger is dominated by imports from China, Peru, and Brazil, making price competition challenging. Florida ginger producers face significant competition, but by focusing on quality, differentiation, and exploring niche markets, they can enhance profitability.