producing

Agri View: Producing Tea in America?

Dan Agri View, Specialty Crops

producingEverett Griner talks about areas in the United States now producing tea in today’s Agri View.

Producing Tea in America?

I have been told if it can be grown anywhere in the world, it can be grown in America. We grow some of the largest crops in the world, and some of the smallest. What about tea? It is a small crop, and, we do grow tea in America. I have been told that some is grown in California. That’s logical.

I saw a short story about a farmer that grows tea in South Carolina. I didn’t get all the details. I jotted down a few. His is a small crop. In small, I mean small acreage. He grows 127 acres. When you have over 5,000 plants per acre, that is a pretty good size crop.

Tea requires moderately high temperature. The land must have good drainage. You don’t pick. You cut the leaves. More than once. Only the top leaves.

That is about all I can tell you, but, we do grow tea in America.

That’s Agri View for today. I’m Everett Griner…