About Crop Picker
Methodology, data sources, and the scoring framework behind the Crop Snowflake.
Our Mission
Crop Picker helps farmers make data-driven decisions about crop selection anywhere in the world. Comparing options across dozens of variables — markets, climate, infrastructure, economics, and risk — is overwhelming, so we aggregate publicly available agricultural data into a single, comparable framework. Set your location from the header to screen crops that fit your climate and markets.
The Crop Snowflake
Every crop is evaluated across 5 axes with 6 binary checks each, producing a score out of 30. The 5 axes are:
- Market Fit— Buyers, pricing, demand, channels, and growth potential
- Climate Fit— Hardiness zone, GDD, precipitation, frost, chill hours, and climate trends
- Infrastructure Fit— Equipment, storage, irrigation, layout, labor, and processing needs
- Financial Return— Revenue, costs, payback period, insurance, efficiency, and subsidies
- Risk Profile— Pests, market diversity, establishment risk, climate resilience, regulations
Each check is a pass/fail evaluation tailored to your selected region. The resulting pentagon radar chart — the "Snowflake" — gives an at-a-glance picture of a crop's strengths and weaknesses.
Data Sources
130 sources trackedEvery data point on Crop Picker is traceable. The complete registry of sources that feed the database is below — government agencies, university extensions, peer-reviewed research, industry reports, and market data providers.
Academic (16)
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
International Society for Horticultural Science, publisher of Acta Horticulturae (peer-reviewed symposium proceedings). First cited 2026-10-10 (luffa).
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Extension (8)
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
National Center for Appropriate Technology, a nonprofit that runs the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program under a USDA cooperative agreement; publishes practical production guidance for small and mid-scale farms.
AgraPoint/Atlantic Provinces vegetable crops production guide for Brussels sprouts — establishment, pests, diseases, physiological disorders, harvest and storage.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Government & Statistical Agencies (24)
Agricorp (Ontario)
highProvincial ministry publishing British Columbia vegetable and berry production guides.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Publisher of the EcoCrop database of crop environmental requirements (annual rainfall, soil pH, temperature, light, crop cycle) for over 2,000 species.
Manitoba Agriculture
highManitoba Agriculture commercial vegetable production guides
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
PRISM Climate Group
highHigh-resolution climate data - temperature, precipitation, GDD
SARE
highUSDA-NIFA SARE Outreach cover-crop handbook; species chapters with establishment, management and comparative agronomy
Federal rulemaking record for American Viticultural Area establishment. AVA petitions and final rules document regional growing season length, heat summation and topography as the legal basis for the boundary, making them a primary published source for regional climate baselines.
USDA AgMRC
highUSDA Agricultural Marketing Resource Center commodity profiles. Hosted by Iowa State University with partial USDA Rural Development funding.
USDA AMS wholesale terminal market fruit & vegetable price reports (FV020 series).
Authoritative reference for optimal postharvest storage temperature, humidity, and storage life by commodity
USDA ERS
highEconomic Research Service - farm income, commodity outlook, trade data
USDA Agricultural Research Service FoodData Central — authoritative per-100g nutrient composition (SR Legacy, Foundation Foods, FNDDS).
USDA Forest Service
highPublisher referenced by crop research. First cited 2026-08-12.
USDA NASS QuickStats
highNational Agricultural Statistics Service - crop prices, acreage, yields, production data
US Department of Agriculture statistical agency. Publisher of the monthly Agricultural Prices report (prices received by farmers, national and by state) and the annual commodity summaries.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
USDA PLANTS Database
highPlant characteristics, native ranges, hardiness zones
Industry Reports & Associations (29)
Grower trade association — cut-flower production references and price guidance.
Baldor Specialty Foods
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
Bascom Maple Farms
moderatePrimary-source grower and purchasing information published by Bascom Maple Farms.
Cherry Central
moderatePrimary-source grower and purchasing information published by Cherry Central.
Chestnut Growers Inc.
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
Ducks Unlimited
highWetland and waterfowl conservation organization; publishes habitat research including cropland nesting-cover studies.
Eden Specialty Ciders
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
Eden Valley Growers
highPublisher of buyer-network source material. First referenced 2026-08-07.
Frieda's Specialty Produce
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
GrowNYC Wholesale
highPublisher of buyer-network source material. First referenced 2026-08-07.
Hammons Products Company
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
Hudson Valley Malt
highPublisher of buyer-network source material. First referenced 2026-08-07.
Johnny's Selected Seeds
moderateVariety-specific growing guides and performance data
Kiwi Berry Organics Co.
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
Melissa's Produce
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
Midwest Elderberry Cooperative
moderateGrower cooperative aggregating North American elderberry; market demand and value-added marketing guidance.
MOM's Organic Market
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
Murmuration Malts
highPublisher of buyer-network source material. First referenced 2026-08-07.
Publisher of buyer-network source material. First referenced 2026-08-07.
New York Craft Malt
highPublisher of buyer-network source material. First referenced 2026-08-07.
River Hills Harvest
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
Grower agronomy guide for lentil seeding, inoculation, insect pests, rolling, desiccation and harvest management.
Sunrise Cooperative
moderatePrimary-source grower and purchasing information published by Sunrise Cooperative.
The Birkett Mills
moderatePrimary-source grower and purchasing information published by The Birkett Mills.
Wegmans Food Markets
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
Wikimedia Commons
highYakima Chief Hops
moderatePublisher recorded on source rows during automated research. First cited 2026-09-04.
Industry Association (2)
Canola Council of Canada — Canola Encyclopedia: agronomy reference for canola establishment, soil, fertility, and harvest.
U.S. Canola Association
moderateNational canola grower association; publishes agronomy, market and pollinator-health guidance for U.S. canola production.
Peer Reviewed (3)
Applied plant-science publisher; publisher of the peer-reviewed journal Crop Management. Cooperative venture of APS, ASA and CSSA.
Peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal; used for primary ecological and pollination research findings.
Open-access peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal; used for primary agronomic and ecological research findings.
University Extension & Research (48)
Auburn University & Alabama A&M University cooperative extension. Pawpaw Production Guide (ANR-3095, 2024).
Scientific society publishing agronomy research. No citation currently rests on it — its 8 citations were repointed to Plant Management Network on 2026-09-20.
Clemson HGIC vegetable and fruit growing factsheets.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Crop budgets, growing guides, pest management for NY
Cornell University small-farms outreach; forest-grown mushroom production and marketing guidance.
eXtension Foundation
highExtension guidance on growing, harvesting, storing, and marketing turnips and rutabagas
MSU College of Agriculture & Natural Resources extension — leading authority on dry beans, soybean, and Great Lakes field crops.
MSU Extension & Western Triangle Ag Research Center — agronomy guides incl. Camelina MontGuide
NDSU Extension
highNDSU Extension projected crop enterprise budgets by multicounty region (EC1652-EC1660), February 2026. Northwest ND (EC1657) includes a dryland proso millet budget.
USDA-funded agricultural research station at the University of New Hampshire. Publisher of "Growing Kiwiberries in New England: A Guide for Regional Producers" (NIFA Multi-state Hatch NH00611-R).
Floriculture research, growing guides, and the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
Crop enterprise budgets and production guides for OH
OSU Extension crop production fact sheets.
Penn State Extension
highCrop production guides, budgets, and recommendations for PA
Penn State WAgN
moderatePennsylvania Women's Agricultural Network (WAgN), a program of the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences; pages hosted on agsci.psu.edu.
Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook (OSU/WSU/UI joint publication)
Purdue Extension
highSafe grain moisture/temperature guidelines and aeration management for stored shelled corn
Publisher referenced by crop research. First cited 2026-08-07.
Land-grant extension publications on field crop agronomy, alternative crops and oilseeds.
Jerusalem artichoke culture, selection and post-harvest handling; in-ground overwintering and cold-storage sweetening.
University of California IPM Pest Management Guidelines for vegetable crops
UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP), a statewide program of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. Publishes grower resources on program sites hosted at ucanr.edu.
UF/IFAS Extension
highUGA Extension
highUMass Extension
highCommercial leek production: varieties, planting, trenching/hilling, harvest and storage conditions.
Grain sorghum harvest moisture, safe storage moisture by duration, aeration temperature guidance.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources — publication PDFs incl. postharvest/storage guidance
Publisher referenced by crop research. First cited 2026-08-07.
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
Publisher referenced by crop research. First cited 2026-08-07.
Publisher referenced by crop research. First cited 2026-08-07.
MU Extension publications incl. G738 Missouri Direct-to-Consumer Pecan Planning Budget (April 2025 prices).
Publisher cited by crop research. First cited 2026-10-01.
University of Saskatchewan Fruit Program (Dr. Bob Bors lab); foundational breeding program for haskap (Lonicera caerulea) cultivars Tundra, Borealis, Aurora, Honeybee, Indigo and Boreal series. Postharvest and commercial-production guidance.
Publisher referenced by crop research. First cited 2026-08-07.
Collaboration of the University of Wisconsin and University of Minnesota with Upper Midwest hazelnut growers; publisher of the Hazelnuts 101 fact-sheet series.
USU Extension production horticulture fact sheets, incl. high tunnel cut flower production.
Production and budget guidance for field-grown specialty cut flowers.
Land-grant extension fact sheets on crop production, plant pathology and postharvest handling.
Recent Database Updates
A live feed of every change to the database — insertions, updates, and deletions across all crops and tables. Every entry is traceable to a source. Showing the most recent 50 of 5452 total changes.
Saturday, October 10, 2026 (50)
| Time | Action | Crop | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:05 PM | update | — | Filled a null from UF/IFAS Extension: "Fresh produce of both smooth and angled luffa varieties is emerging on Florida vegetable markets. Smooth luffa, as its name suggests, produces green, squash-like fruit (Figure 1). Common cultivars for smooth luffa include 'Smooth Boy', 'Smooth Beauty', and 'South Winner'." | UF/IFAS Extension |
| 11:05 PM | update | — | Filled a null from UF/IFAS Extension: "Fresh produce of both smooth and angled luffa varieties is emerging on Florida vegetable markets. Smooth luffa, as its name suggests, produces green, squash-like fruit (Figure 1). Common cultivars for smooth luffa include 'Smooth Boy', 'Smooth Beauty', and 'South Winner'." | UF/IFAS Extension |
| 11:05 PM | update | — | Filled a null from UF/IFAS Extension: "Fresh produce of both smooth and angled luffa varieties is emerging on Florida vegetable markets. Smooth luffa, as its name suggests, produces green, squash-like fruit (Figure 1). Common cultivars for smooth luffa include 'Smooth Boy', 'Smooth Beauty', and 'South Winner'." | UF/IFAS Extension |
| 11:05 PM | update | Luffa | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:05 PM | insert | Luffa | New crop Luffa with 43 child rows; every value cited (149 citations, specs scratch/2026-10-09/specs/luffa_*.json). | North Carolina State University Extension |
| 11:33 AM | update | Canola (Rapeseed) | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Brassica napus L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:33 AM | update | Watermelon | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:33 AM | update | Tomato | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Solanum lycopersicum L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:33 AM | update | Sweet Potato | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:33 AM | update | Sunflower | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Helianthus annuus L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:33 AM | update | Soybean | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Glycine max (L.) Merr. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:33 AM | update | Sorghum (Grain) | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Quinoa | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Chenopodium quinoa Willd. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Pumpkin | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Cucurbita pepo L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Proso Millet | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Panicum miliaceum L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Potatoes | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Solanum tuberosum L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Parsnip | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Pastinaca sativa L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Onion | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Allium cepa L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Oats | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Avena sativa L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Lentil | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Lens culinaris Medik. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Hemp (Grain/Fiber) | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Cannabis sativa L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Flax (Oilseed) | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Linum usitatissimum L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Snap Bean | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Phaseolus vulgaris L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Dry Bean | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Phaseolus vulgaris L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Cereal Rye | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Secale cereale L. Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Camelina | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:32 AM | update | Buckwheat | Filled a null from USDA Agricultural Research Service: "Taxon: Fagopyrum esculentum Moench Nomenclature Common Names Distribution Economic Uses Summary" | USDA Agricultural Research Service |
| 11:18 AM | update | — | Filled a null from Penn State Extension: "Meader Available as both a male and a female. Make sure to order the female if you want fruit from it. The fruit is medium-sized." | Penn State Extension |
| 11:18 AM | update | — | Filled a null from Penn State Extension: "Issai The only self-fertile variety (not requiring a male pollinator). This variety has not performed well in Pennsylvania. It is from Japan and is less vigorous than other hardy kiwi varieties, with small fruit and good flavor. Harvesting it is a challenge because the fruit ripens unevenly within a cluster." | Penn State Extension |
| 11:18 AM | update | — | Filled a null from Penn State Extension: "Issai The only self-fertile variety (not requiring a male pollinator). This variety has not performed well in Pennsylvania. It is from Japan and is less vigorous than other hardy kiwi varieties, with small fruit and good flavor. Harvesting it is a challenge because the fruit ripens unevenly within a cluster." | Penn State Extension |
| 11:18 AM | update | — | Filled a null from Penn State Extension: "Geneva Several Geneva selections are available through nurseries. Even though they are not widely tested, it is known that the fruit ripens earlier than either Anna or Issai, and that it has a good flavor." | Penn State Extension |
| 11:18 AM | update | — | Filled a null from Penn State Extension: "Geneva Several Geneva selections are available through nurseries. Even though they are not widely tested, it is known that the fruit ripens earlier than either Anna or Issai, and that it has a good flavor." | Penn State Extension |
| 11:18 AM | update | — | Filled a null from Penn State Extension: "Dumbarton Oaks Named after the public garden in which an old vine of this variety was growing and from which plants of this variety were originally propagated. Has good flavor." | Penn State Extension |
| 11:18 AM | update | — | Filled a null from Penn State Extension: "Ananasnaya The name of this variety in Russian means "pineapple-like." Because of the tongue-twisting name, many nursery catalogs will refer to this variety as "Anna." The fruit is of very good quality, with a sweet aroma and intense flavor. The skin is green and develops a purple-red blush in the sun. A very vigorous vine, this variety is currently the only "standard" that we have to compare to o" | Penn State Extension |
| 11:18 AM | update | — | Filled a null from Penn State Extension: "Ananasnaya The name of this variety in Russian means "pineapple-like." Because of the tongue-twisting name, many nursery catalogs will refer to this variety as "Anna." The fruit is of very good quality, with a sweet aroma and intense flavor." | Penn State Extension |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from NDSU Extension: "‘Millennium’ were slower to attain high yields compared to ‘Jersey’ varieties, but they later showed superior and heavy yields over a 15-year lifespan." | NDSU Extension |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from NDSU Extension: "‘Millennium’ is better adapted to cold climates compared to ‘Jersey Giant’ or ‘Jersey Supreme’. It goes dormant earlier in the fall and emerges later in spring, reducing the risk of frost damage." | NDSU Extension |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Purple Passion is a new cultivar that produces attractive purple spears. It has a high sugar level and a unique taste. Once cooked, it turns green." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey Supreme is a high-yielding male hybrid with wide climate adaptation. It has good rust resistance and is suited to processing and the fresh market." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey Supreme is a high-yielding male hybrid with wide climate adaptation. It has good rust resistance and is suited to processing and the fresh market." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey Supreme is a high-yielding male hybrid with wide climate adaptation. It has good rust resistance and is suited to processing and the fresh market." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey Knight, also a Rutgers University all-male hybrid release, has very vigorous growth and produces large green spears with purple bracts. It has resistance to rust, is tolerant to fusarium crown and root rot, and consequently does well on fusarium-infested soils." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey Knight, also a Rutgers University all-male hybrid release, has very vigorous growth and produces large green spears with purple bracts. It has resistance to rust, is tolerant to fusarium crown and root rot, and consequently does well on fusarium-infested soils." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey Knight, also a Rutgers University all-male hybrid release, has very vigorous growth and produces large green spears with purple bracts. It has resistance to rust, is tolerant to fusarium crown and root rot, and consequently does well on fusarium-infested soils." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey King has high yield potential and good spear size. A Rutgers University release, it is adapted to temperate and warm climates." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey King has high yield potential and good spear size. A Rutgers University release, it is adapted to temperate and warm climates." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey Giant, a Rutgers University release, is an extremely vigorous, high-yielding, all-male hybrid with excellent disease resistance. Spears are an attractive green with purple bracts and large size." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey Giant, a Rutgers University release, is an extremely vigorous, high-yielding, all-male hybrid with excellent disease resistance." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey Gem is a high-yielding, all-male hybrid with large spear size and slightly more purple color than the other hybrids. It has high rust and Cercospera resistance." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
| 11:14 AM | update | — | Filled a null from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: "Jersey Gem is a high-yielding, all-male hybrid with large spear size and slightly more purple color than the other hybrids. It has high rust and Cercospera resistance." | University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
Regional Coverage
The catalog is being built outward from the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt (Chautauqua County, NY and Erie County, PA), with the Finger Lakes as a second, cooler region and the Chautauqua Uplands (the Allegheny Plateau south of the lake escarpment) as a climate preset. Each region's hardiness zones, growing degree days, frost-free season and rainfall are cited to NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals and the 2023 USDA hardiness map. Open the location picker in the header to switch region; the farm matcher accepts any farm's own conditions, so it is not limited to these regions.
Matching crops to a farm
Match my farm compares a farm's conditions — hardiness zone, heat and season length, winter chill, rainfall, soil texture, drainage and pH, cold-air drainage, light, irrigation, cold storage, labor, capital and planning horizon — against what the catalog records for each crop, one criterion at a time. Three rules keep it honest:
- Unknown is never unfit. A crop whose heat requirement is not yet recorded is reported as unknown on that criterion, not penalised, and the gap is listed so it can be researched.
- Every verdict says whether it rests on a citation. A citation that contradicts the stored value does not count as support; the criterion is marked as disputed instead.
- Coverage and known problems cap the result. A crop can only be a strong fit when most of the asked criteria could be evaluated and none failed; a hard gate (zone, texture, drainage, pH far outside the target) excludes it with the reason shown.
The same engine is available to software at /api/v1/recommend, and documented crop-to-crop interactions (shared pests, allelopathy, rotation effects, alley and understory pairings) at /api/v1/interactions.
Disclaimer
Crop Picker is an informational tool and does not constitute agricultural, financial, or investment advice. All data is aggregated from public sources and may contain estimates or approximations. Actual crop performance depends on local conditions, management practices, and market dynamics. Always consult with local extension agents and agricultural professionals before making planting decisions.
Built by Every.Farm
Crop Picker is a project of Every.Farm, building tools to help farmers make better decisions with data. We believe that the same analytical rigor available to institutional investors should be accessible to the people growing our food.