Crystal Springs, Mississippi was once considered the tomato capital of the world, and was even nicknamed "Tomatopolis." It's fitting that the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station's Truck Crops Branch, one of the 16 branch stations, is located just south of a town known for its tomatoes. The Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station focuses on horticulture.
The station, which was established in 1938, encompasses 175 acres, the most acreage dedicated to horticulture in the MSU system. There are two laboratories, shop facilities, nine greenhouses and seven high tunnels on-site.
Researchers focus on vegetables, ornamental crops, fruits and pecans, conducting variety trials for commercial growers and the gardening public as well. Researchers evaluate how well certain plants grow under various conditions in the field, in the greenhouses, in the high tunnels, and in various containers. Three of the high tunnels are dedicated to researching organic fruits and vegetables. Performance ratings for the ornamental crops are stored in an on-line database. Information on greenhouse tomatoes can be found on the Greenhouse Tomatoes webpage.
Contact Us
Telephone: 601-892-3731
Fax: 601-892-2056
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 231
Crystal Springs, MS 39059
Physical Address:
2024 Experiment Station Road
Crystal Springs, MS 39059