After nearly two decades of vegetable and fruit production, I have come to the conclusion that one of the most under-used tools in a farmer's toolbox is intercropping. It doesn't seem to matter how big the farm is, whether it is certified organic, or if the main focus is on perennial or annual plants. If intercropping techniques are used at all, they are rarely prioritized and are often discarded if they fail to meet unrealistic expectations the first time a grower tries them.