2025 Project! Growing and Promoting Hibiscus (RosELLE)

Welcome to our  Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle) Project Growing and Promoting Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle) as a Cash Crop for the Small-Scale 

Farmer in Alabama’s Black Belt using sustainable practices and field trials to enhance economic opportunities and support agricultural resilience in the region. Stay Tuned for project updates, educational resources, and downloadable materials, such as fact sheets, guides, and workshop materials.

 This event will focus on mid-season crop management practices, including organic pest control, soil health monitoring, and irrigation management using natural rainfall. Attendees will be guided through the 1/4 acre Roselle plot to observe plant growth, learn about the cultivation process, and see the impact of sustainable farming practices. Demonstrations will include proper plant spacing, soil amendment techniques, and pest management using organic methods.

 Online Workshop 1: Sustainable Farming Techniques (July 2025): This workshop will cover topics such as soil health management, low-input farming strategies, and organic pest control methods.

Our second field day will focus on harvesting, processing, and value-added product development. Participants will observe harvesting process and participate in hands-on demonstrations of calyx clipping, de-seeding, drying, and processing calyces into products such as teas, jams, and frozen calyces. This field day will also include discussions on marketing specialty crops and social media marketing.

 Online Workshop 2: Value-Added Product Development and Marketing (December  27, 2025): The second workshop will focus on creating value-added products from Roselle, such as teas, jams, and dried calyces, and will discuss strategies for selling these products at farmers' markets, online platforms, and through local retail outlets. It will also cover farm business management topics such as cost analysis, pricing strategies, and branding.