Saffron:

A Golden Opportunity
for Crop Diversification
Margaret Skinner, Bruce L. Parker
& Arash Ghalehgolabbehbahani
Univ. of Vermont, Entomology Research Laboratory
 What is Saffron?
Crocus sativus (=cultivated)
 The most expensive spice in the world Stigma
over $3,000-9,000/lb!
 Family: Iridaceae, subfamily Crocoideae
 Origin: Probably Greece or Crete
 Height: 5 - 20 inches tall
 Flowering: autumn
 Reproduction: Corm
Stamen
 In cultivation for over 3,500 yr
Saffron in Barcelona Market, 2016

Price in Spain:

1 g (0.035 oz) for 7.50 Euros ($8.36)

Equal to: $3,792/pound

Price in the US:

~$20/g

Equal to: $9,072/pound

Price of gold: $42/g

 What is Saffron good for?
 Culinary spice
 Medicinal herb
 Medicinal extract
 Perfume
 Ornamental plant
 Fabric dye
 Liqueur
 World Saffron Cultivation
Grown by Penn. Dutch
as early as 1700s.
Italy

Spain Iran Tajikistan

Morocco Greece

India

In 2013 the US imported 25 tons of saffron!

Why is Saffron so expensive?
Currently most harvesting is done by hand.

One acre (field-grown) produces about three pounds of saffron.

 Why is Saffron so expensive?
Currently all processing is done by hand.

4,000 blooms = 1 oz of saffron (approx.

114,000 threads or stigmas).
 Potential of Saffron for Diversified Farmers

 High value crop

 Low input (except labor for harvesting & processing)
 Production is relatively simple
 Labor outputs are mostly 4 weeks in late Oct./Nov.
 Fits into traditional vegetable production cycle
 Lots of possible value-added products

Saffron safes

Saffron honey
Saffron flavored oil Saffron flavored syrup
Can Saffron be grown commercially
in Northern Climates (zones 3 & 4)?

Our Hypothesis:
Probably not outside in the field,
but perhaps in high tunnels
High Tunnel Growing
Methods Tested
Raised beds Milk crates
 Why High Tunnels?

 Low cost to erect and operate

 Protected environment but not too hot
 Used for other traditional crops
 Why
Milk Crates?

 They are easy to move so growers can start other

high-value crops like tomatoes in spring.
 They are inexpensive (often free) and readily
available.
 They are the right depth for growing saffron.
 They are light weight but sturdy and durable.
 They protect corms from rodent predation.
 Production Methods
Source of Corms: Ruth Martin, PA (2015)
American Meadows (2016)
Corm size: 10-40 mm diameter
Planting date: Aug. 25-Sept. 1
Irrigation: top watering

MILK CRATES
 Milk crates (11 in. tall) covered inside with 2 strips of weed cloth.
 Crate filled with 4 in. top soil.
 Corms placed tip end up on top soil, covered with 2 in. of top soil
and then 4 in. of a perennial potting mix containing compost.
 11 corms planted/crate (=100 corms/sq meter)
 Production Methods
RAISED BEDS
 Raised beds (12 in. tall) with bottom covered with hardware cloth
(2016 only).
 Corms planted 2 in. deep in top soil, covered with 2 in. top soil,
and then 4 in. potting mix.
 Planting density: 100 corms/ sq meter
 Harvesting and Drying Methods
Harvest Period ~35 days: October 12-November 20

 Harvested by hand every 2 days.

 Stigmas, stamens and petals

separated and dried.

 Fresh and dry weight of each part

recorded.

 Drying methods tested:

• Air dried 48 hr.
• Air dried 24 hr, oven 1 hr at
35°C.
 Post Harvest Methods

Secondary corm

 Check for rodent damage.

 No watering.

 Corms reach dormancy by

March (leaves turn brown)

Primary or mother corm

Factors We Assessed

Saffron yield
Saffron quality
Corm yield/survival
Cost of production
 2015 Saffron Yield
in ground in crates
3.5

3.0 2.87
453.6 gr = ~1 lb
2.5

Estimated VT Retail Price:

Average (gr/m2)

1.93
2.0

1.47
$20/gr ($9,000/lb)
1.5 1.39

1.08
1.0 0.88

0.5

0.0
STIGMA STAMEN TOTAL

• Our saffron estimated revenue per sq ft = $4.03/sq ft

• Estimated yield/acre: 5,624 gr [12.6 lb] = $112,480
• Greater yield than Iran (0.34 gr/sq m) and Spain (0.60 gr/sq m)
• Greater revenue per sq ft than tomatoes ($3.51) or winter greens ($1.81)
Threads in ¼ gram = 40
threads = ½ teaspoon
 Why was our yield higher
than Iran and Spain?

• Soil fertility
• Soil moisture
• Protection from rain
and wind damage
• Saffron cultivar?
 Saffron quality
1.20
Safranal content
Sample Growing Harvest time
1.00 Source
1.00 # method
Normalized %

0.80 1 VT HT In-crate Early season

0.60 0.54
2 VT HT In-ground Early season
0.36 0.36
0.40
0.26 0.28 0.25 0.27 0.30 0.24
0.21 0.19 3 VT HT In-crate Late season
0.20

0.00 4 VT HT In-ground Late season

5 VT HT In-crate Late season

Saffron Sample #
Crocin content 6 VT HT In-ground Late season
1.20

1.00
0.97 1.00 0.93 0.97
0.90
7 VT HT In-crate Late season
0.87 0.84
Normalized %

0.77
0.72
0.80 0.72
0.59
8 VT HT In-ground Late season
0.60

0.40 0.30
9 PA In-ground Late season

0.20
10 Iran In-ground Unknown
0.00
11 Spain In-ground Unknown

Saffron Sample # 12 Italy In-ground Unknown

Analyses by Dr. Charles Cantrell, USDA ARS, Natural Products Utilization Research Lab, University, MS
 Corm Yield
Treatment # primary # secondary Average wt/corm Average wt/corm
corms 2015 corms in 2016 2015 2016

In ground 465 407 11.2 grams 10.3 grams

In crates 465 756 11.2 grams 7.7 grams

• Almost 2 times more corms harvested

Secondary corm
from crates than from raised beds.
Major factor: rodent feeding and
predation in raised beds

• Corms from raised beds were 1/3

heavier than those from crates.
Major factor: soil moisture deficit in
crates

Primary corm
 Corm Size and Weight

• 43-51% of the harvested corms • In-ground corms were heavier

were medium size. (more dense) than those from
the in-crate treatment.
• 26% of in-ground corms and 16% Very small= <10 mm; Small=10 -20 mm
of in-crate corms were large. Medium=20-30 mm; Large=>30 mm
 Rodent Damage
2016 flowering patterns
Raised beds

Rabbits

Crates

Voles & Moles

Ruth Martin’s home saffron bed
Central Pennsylvania
 All that Glitters is NOT Gold!
Mexican Saffron is not
the real thing.
It is safflower
(Carthamus tinctorius),
a frequent filler or
fraudulent product.
 Local Market Opportunities:
Product Quality & Authenticity

Present certification
of Greek Organic
Saffron.
Can processing be mechanized to
reduce labor costs?
Necessity is the Mother of Invention.

Blue Monkey Gathering Saffron

Fresco from the Palace of Knossos on Crete (1500 BC).
 Summary
• Saffron yield was higher in crates than in the ground.
• Saffron yield was greater when grown in high tunnels
in VT than outside in traditional saffron-growing areas.
• Saffron quality in general was not significantly different
from other commercial products.
• Corm yield was less for the in-ground than the in-crate
treatment. Rodent damage and water availability were
major factors.
• Corm size and weight was higher for the in-ground
than the in-crate treatment.
• Revenue from saffron per sq ft was greater than
tomatoes or winter greens.
 Future Research
• Repeat high tunnel trials in crates and in ground
to determine patterns in survival, yield and corm
production.
• Compare saffron yield in Year 1 and 2.
• Continue to assess saffron quality relative to
harvest date and drying methods.
• Test different ways to minimize rodent damage.
• Market analysis.
• Develop other value added products.
Drinking saffron tea is
said to bestow the gift
of clairvoyance.

I have been imbibing, and have visions of

a strong Saffron industry in Northern New
England in the future!
This will test saffron’s powers!
 Thanks for the Support!
• Center for Lake Champlain Watershed
Research, Innovation and Implementation
• Herb Society of America
• Charles L. Cantrell, USDA ARS
• UVM College of Agric. & Life Sciences
• American Meadows
• Thomas Dairy Farms
• Monument Farms Dairy
• Old Castle Architectural

Some images for this presentation were

provided by Susan Liechty, Herb Soc. of America.