Garlic producers in Wyoming?!?!

[GON]

Interesting easy going read about garlic farmers in Wyoming. These producers reportedly sell the garlic primarily at farmers markets.

I had never heard of garlic being grown commercially outside of California. Never would have guessed Wyoming as a garlic producing state.

Wonder what other produce can be produced commercially in other states that is not yet tapped?

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/0...sands-of-bulbs-each-year-in-shadow-of-tetons/

 

[nealberke]

Interesting easy going read about garlic farmers in Wyoming. These producers reportedly sell the garlic primarily at farmers markets.

I had never heard of garlic being grown commercially outside of California. Never would have guessed Wyoming as a garlic producing state.

Wonder what other produce can be produced commercially in other states that is not yet tapped?

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/0...sands-of-bulbs-each-year-in-shadow-of-tetons/

I hope WY continues to grow whatever it can. WY has lost income since the 1970's when the refineries closed. I'd love to see Chinese garlic get American competition. I've seen some small pig farms in WY. Sugar beets of course. And, cattle. WY produces coal depending upon who is in the White House. For a while, they were exporting coal to other countries. Sadly, the Dave Johnson power plant is closing. I'm wondering how that will affect the price and availabilty in the region? They are a world leader in the production of washing soda and baking soda with several mines near Rock Springs / Green River. Maybe WY can produce pickling cucumbers? I think they can grow in cold climates? We import cucumbers.

 

[AZjeff]

Forget garlic. If they'd put up a bunch of wind turbines everyone could retire. We spent some time in May in Green River and the wind was relentless. Our niece said it was calm, good weather for the girl's softball game we went to. Interstate 80 was closed to RVs for 200 miles one day because of wind. The mineral that produces baking soda is Trona and there are huge underground mines around Green River.

 

[GON]

Forget garlic. If they'd put up a bunch of wind turbines everyone could retire. We spent some time in May in Green River and the wind was relentless. Our niece said it was calm, good weather for the girl's softball game we went to. Interstate 80 was closed to RVs for 200 miles one day because of wind. The mineral that produces baking soda is Trona and there are huge underground mines around Green River.

My Wife concurs with your wind assessment of Wyoming, And I have experienced the Wyoming winds many times.

What u find funny is my Wife thinks the Wyoming winds start and end at the Wyoming borders, and the strong winds are not present in Idaho, Utah, etc.

 

[AZjeff]

What u find funny is my Wife thinks the Wyoming winds start and end at the Wyoming borders, and the strong winds are not present in Idaho, Utah, etc.

We spent a few days in Vernal Utah 75 miles south of Green River and it wasn't nearly as windy as Green River so based on experience I'd have to concur with your wife. Different topography.

 

[GON]

We spent a few days in Vernal Utah 75 miles south of Green River and it wasn't nearly as windy as Green River so based on experience I'd have to concur with your wife. Different topography.

@AZjeff,

Now for the rest of the story:
Is Wyoming Windy Because Nebraska Sucks And Utah Blows? The Science Says Yes.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/0...raska-sucks-and-utah-blows-heres-the-science/

 

[97prizm]

I hope WY continues to grow whatever it can. WY has lost income since the 1970's when the refineries closed. I'd love to see Chinese garlic get American competition. I've seen some small pig farms in WY. Sugar beets of course. And, cattle. WY produces coal depending upon who is in the White House. For a while, they were exporting coal to other countries. Sadly, the Dave Johnson power plant is closing. I'm wondering how that will affect the price and availabilty in the region? They are a world leader in the production of washing soda and baking soda with several mines near Rock Springs / Green River. Maybe WY can produce pickling cucumbers? I think they can grow in cold climates? We import cucumbers.

Chinese garlands has a 50% plus tariff on it. At one time there were over 12 garlic produced in California's. Three remain.

 

[Tom NJ]

Interesting easy going read about garlic farmers in Wyoming. These producers reportedly sell the garlic primarily at farmers markets.

I had never heard of garlic being grown commercially outside of California. Never would have guessed Wyoming as a garlic producing state.

Garlic is easy to grow just about everywhere. I have been growing it for 50 years in both NJ and Virginia. I cut down to just 360 this year. In addition to using it in canning salsa & sauces plus cooking, I also give quite a bit away to friends. It's a fun crop.

 

[IndyIan]

My wife grows all of ours too. I don't recall any problems with bugs getting into it, unlike almost every other veggie or fruit.

 

[nealberke]

Here's the Cowboy State Daily article about Michael and Juila Scheller and their 3 acre garlic farm in WY. CSD has great articles about WY. You may need a free subscription to read the piece.

SCHELLER'S GARLIC FARM IN WY

 

[Hohn]

I hope WY continues to grow whatever it can. WY has lost income since the 1970's when the refineries closed. I'd love to see Chinese garlic get American competition. I've seen some small pig farms in WY. Sugar beets of course. And, cattle. WY produces coal depending upon who is in the White House. For a while, they were exporting coal to other countries. Sadly, the Dave Johnson power plant is closing. I'm wondering how that will affect the price and availabilty in the region? They are a world leader in the production of washing soda and baking soda with several mines near Rock Springs / Green River. Maybe WY can produce pickling cucumbers? I think they can grow in cold climates? We import cucumbers.

The refinery in Cheyenne was still going strong (and hiring) when I left in 2006.

I loved Cheyenne. My eldest was born there and I'd move back tomorrow if circumstances permitted and if I wasn't so set in my ways now.

 

[slo town]

Forget garlic. If they'd put up a bunch of wind turbines everyone could retire. We spent some time in May in Green River and the wind was relentless. Our niece said it was calm, good weather for the girl's softball game we went to. Interstate 80 was closed to RVs for 200 miles one day because of wind. The mineral that produces baking soda is Trona and there are huge underground mines around Green River.

While living in Colorado (2000-2002) I rode two centuries (100 mile organized bicycle rides) that started in Fort Collins and rode up into Wyoming. Wide open country with very little automotive traffic, but otherwise miserable. ZERO shade and CONSTANT wind.

Scott

 

[JohnnyG]

Interesting easy going read about garlic farmers in Wyoming. These producers reportedly sell the garlic primarily at farmers markets.

I had never heard of garlic being grown commercially outside of California. Never would have guessed Wyoming as a garlic producing state.

Wonder what other produce can be produced commercially in other states that is not yet tapped?

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/0...sands-of-bulbs-each-year-in-shadow-of-tetons/

Try Idaho.

 

[JohnnyG]

Garlic is easy to grow just about everywhere. I have been growing it for 50 years in both NJ and Virginia. I cut down to just 360 this year. In addition to using it in canning salsa & sauces plus cooking, I also give quite a bit away to friends. It's a fun crop.

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WOW! That's some beautiful garlic. I agree, it's not that hard to grow. I used to grow it in Pennsylvania myself, but to get it that big is quite an accomplihment!

And yes, a fun crop to grow. I always kept some in a jar of olive oil in the fridge. Good stuff and good for you.

 

[Hohn]

While living in Colorado (2000-2002) I rode two centuries (100 mile organized bicycle rides) that started in Fort Collins and rode up into Wyoming. Wide open country with very little automotive traffic, but otherwise miserable. ZERO shade and CONSTANT wind.

Scott

300+ days a year with average wind speeds over 20mph

 

[y_p_w]

Chinese garlands has a 50% plus tariff on it. At one time there were over 12 garlic produced in California's. Three remain.

What? I know that there's this perception that Gilroy is the "Garlic Capital of the US" although Santa Clara County is way down the list in terms of garlic production compared to Fresno or Kern. Some of the writing seems to be hard to decipher. Did you mean 12 garlic producers? I'm looking into it, and there are three major producers, but a fair number of smaller producers.

 

[97prizm]

What? I know that there's this perception that Gilroy is the "Garlic Capital of the US" although Santa Clara County is way down the list in terms of garlic production compared to Fresno or Kern. Some of the writing seems to be hard to decipher. Did you mean 12 garlic producers? I'm looking into it, and there are three major producers, but a fair number of smaller producers.

Yeah there were 12 garlic producers at one point according to the third generation Owner of Christopher Garlic Ranch. Now it's down to three. Apparently garlic is very labor intensive and can be damaged easily. Business Insider has a great video about the company.

 

[nealberke]

Garlic is easy to grow just about everywhere. I have been growing it for 50 years in both NJ and Virginia. I cut down to just 360 this year. In addition to using it in canning salsa & sauces plus cooking, I also give quite a bit away to friends. It's a fun crop.

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Do you ever come up with uses for the scapes? I found some recipies on line. I wonder if big farms compost their scapes or if they find a profitalbe use for them?

 

[Tom NJ]

I prefer scapes grilled after coating with olive oil, salt, and curry powder. They are also good sautéed or chopped in a salad. The hundreds that I get are too much so I give most away to friends or restaurants.

 

[Tom NJ]

Apparently garlic is very labor intensive and can be damaged easily.

Commercial growers use machinery for planting and harvesting, as opposed to me on my hands and knees at age 75. The labor intensive parts include the popping of the bulbs to free the cloves for planting, and after harvest as the bulbs need to be cured, usually by hanging in a warm well ventilated place protected from sun and rain. Curing can take 2-6 weeks depending on conditions to get them fully dry, and then the bulbs need to be brushed clean and trimmed. Careful handling is important so as to not bruise the cloves.

Since I only plant 360 I have the luxury of harvesting bulb at a time when ready (five mostly green leaves remaining) and usually dig 25-50 at a time over a two week period. Each leaf is a wrapper around the bulb and I clean mine by pulling down the fifth leaf, giving a clean and beautiful bulb.

I replant the largest cloves from the largest bulbs each year in early November and the garlic gets progressively larger (up to a point). The majority of my bulbs are over 2.5 inches and each year I get some over three inches. These are not elephant garlic (which is actually a leek) but rather hard neck garlic varieties (Music, Russian Red, and Estonian Red).

I wrote a paper on growing garlic but I don't know how to attach a .docx file.