Cabbage
Brassica oleracea
Cool-season biennial vegetable grown as annual in NY; major crop with 12,000+ acres, high yields in fertile soils near Lake Erie. Requires even moisture, nitrogen split apps at 150 lb/acre.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Growing Season
- Plant
- April - May (spring); July (fall) Zone 6a – April - May (spring); July (fall) Zone 6a
- Harvest
- June-July (spring); Sept-Oct (fall) – June-July (spring); Sept-Oct (fall)
- Frost-free days
- 120+
- GDD (base 50°F)
- 2,500
Yield
- Typical yield
- 430 cwt/acre/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 1 years
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Established crop with known regional buyers
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price stable over past 3 years
Supply Below Demand
Regional supply roughly balanced with demand
Multiple Buyer Channels
Multiple market channels: wholesale, retail, processing, and/or direct
Value-Added Potential
Limited value-added processing opportunities
Market Growth Projected
Stable market outlook
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Zone 6a within crop range (3.0-9.0)
GDD Sufficient
Regional GDD (2600) meets crop requirement (2500)
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (120 days)
Chill Hours Met
Chill hour requirement N/A for this crop type or met by default
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Standard farm equipment compatible or easily adapted
Storage Available
Cold storage needed; may require investment
Irrigation Compatible
Irrigation beneficial; existing vineyard irrigation systems adaptable
Field Layout Suitable
Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop
Labor Availability
Moderate labor requirements; manageable with planning
Processing Proximity
Processing/packing facilities within viable distance in WNY
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue ($8,471/acre) exceeds regional average
Input Costs Acceptable
Input costs are low to moderate
Payback Period OK
Reaches full production in 0 years; acceptable payback
Insurance Available
Federal crop insurance available
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Labor-intensive; revenue per labor hour may be modest
Grants/Subsidies
No specific subsidy programs identified
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $20//cwt (NY 2024) |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $8,471 |
| Annual Operating Cost | —/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $1,500/acre |
| Total Input Cost | —/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | — |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Available |
Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA RMA, regional budget studies (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Significant pest/disease pressure requiring intensive management
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
Moderate establishment risk; manageable with planning
Climate Resilient
Moderate climate resilience for the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Risk data for this crop is being collected. Check back soon.
Nearby Buyers
Data sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: Lake Erie (lake_erie)