THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS, ECONOMICS AND MARKET FOR ON-FARM DRYING OF SPECIALTY USING SOLAR DEHYDRATORS BY SMALL GROWERS IN INDIANA AND GEORGIA. THERE IS A GROWING MARKET FOR SUN DRIED SPECIALTY CROPS (FRUITS, VEGETABLES, NUTS, HERBS, ETC.) WITH A GLOBAL DEMAND OF OVER $5 BILLION, OF WHICH ABOUT OVER $1.5M IS IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE. WITH THE GROWING MARKET FOR LOCAL FOODS, SPECIALTY CROPS AND ORGANIC FOODS PRODUCED BY SMALL GROWERS, THERE APPEARS TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SOLAR DRYING TECHNOLOGY TO PROCESS SUN-DRIED PRODUCTS ON-FARM IN THE MIDWEST AND SOUTH-EAST, WHICH HAVE ABOUT 60% SOLAR IRRADIATION FOUND IN THE WEST COAST. THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS AN INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECT UNDER THE PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY CODE - A1601 ON THE FEASIBILITY OF PROCESSING SUN-DRIED SPECIALTY CROPS BY SMALL GROWERS IN INDIANA AND GEORGIA. THE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION TEAM FROM PURDUE AND FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH SMALL GROWERS IN INDIANA AND GEORGIA TO IDENTIFY SPECIALTY CROPS IN HIGH DEMAND AND HIGH-VALUE WHEN PROCESSED AS SUN-DRIED PRODUCTS. RESEARCH WILL BE CONDUCTED ON SUN DRYING THE SELECTED CROPS USING A HIGH EFFICIENCY SOLAR DRYER DEVELOPED AT PURDUE, NUTRIENT RETENTION AND OTHER QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS, ECONOMICS AND MARKETING OF SUN-DRIED SPECIALTY CROPS. THE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO SMALL GROWERS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER AND EXTENSION OUTREACH. BENEFITS WILL ALSO ACCRUE TO RURAL COMMUNITIES AS SUSTAINABLE ZERO-CARBON RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES OPPORTUNITIES BECOME AVAILABLE.