Early detection of viral diseases in vegetable crops has been based on principles that include participatory surveillance (PS). This chapter integrates local knowledge, the role of farmers, and scientific technologies to contribute to and improve detection strategies. PS has been affected by genetic recombination of viruses, rapid spread, and a wide range of hosts, similar to what happened with ToBRFV and TYLCV. Late detection has led to the introduction of exotic plant viruses and yield losses of up to 100% in crop production. The participatory surveillance pyramid integrates farmers and extension workers who are responsible for inspecting the symptoms at the field level, while researchers, diagnostic laboratories, and the federal government verify the results, implement eradication actions, and establish new policies. The PS relies on information technology to develop sampling procedures, training programs for producers, and improve the efficiency of virus diagnosis. Cutting-edge molecular techniques and next-generation platforms for mass sequencing link two different scenarios, laboratory and field, to detect the presence of unknown viruses. However, participatory strategies face obstacles in terms of logistics, data validation, and sustainability, which affect the management of viral threats in vegetable production systems.