The North American Center for Saffron Research and Development at the University of Vermont (UVM) and Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania hosted the 7th annual workshop on saffron production and marketing. The workshop was held on March 23 and March 30, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event was held online and will be recorded for all registrants.
Saffron, the stigmas of a fall-blooming crocus flower (Crocus sativus), is the most expensive spice in the world with a retail price of over $5,000/lb. It is used as a culinary spice and medicinal herb. Saffron is a high-value crop that could significantly strengthen sustainable agriculture, and preserve the rural working landscapes of North America.
Hundreds of farmers across the Northeast are successfully growing saffron. Experts from the U.S., Lebanon and Iran will share their knowledge in this workshop about growing, harvesting and selling this precious crop. The medicinal and nutraceutical applications of saffron will also be discussed.
This event is sponsored by UVM Extension, the UVM College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Specialty Crops Program.