Welcome to iGrow News, Your Source for the World of Indoor Vertical Farming
Her Farm’s Mission: Empowering People With Disabilities
Nona Yehia is CEO and Co-founder of Vertical Harvest, a company in Jackson, Wyoming, that cranks out roughly 100,000 pounds of produce each year in a three-story, state-of-the-art, hydroponic greenhouse.
By Claire Elise Thompson on July 27, 2019
Nona Yehia is CEO and Co-founder of Vertical Harvest, a company in Jackson, Wyoming, that cranks out roughly 100,000 pounds of produce each year in a three-story, state-of-the-art, hydroponic greenhouse. Bumble Bee tomatoes, rainbow chard, butterhead lettuce — the company’s 34 employees generate as much bounty as a 10-acre traditional farm while using only one tenth of an acre of land.
And there’s something else: Many of those employees have developmental disabilities. Including this underserved population in such an innovative endeavor “is about empowerment,” Yehia says. “It’s about exposing ability.”
We caught up with Yehia, (who, along with Co-founder Penny McBride, was featured on Grist’s annual list of “Fixers” in 2016) to talk about a new documentary that follows the “tumultuous” first 15 months of Vertical Harvest’s endeavor, and the company’s journey in the years since it was filmed.
Here are some snippets from our conversation.
Yehia on reliving the early days of Vertical Harvest:
I like to call it adventures in sleep deprivation and weight gain. Anyone in the startup world can understand. [The film is] actually very hard for us to watch. But at the same time, it’s great to recognize how hard we’ve worked and how far we’ve come. Where it really shines is in telling the stories of our employees and their role in the startup.
On the origins of the company, and its employment model:
It was three women — myself, Penny McBride, and Caroline Croft Estay. I’m an architect. Penny McBride was a sustainability consultant, and Caroline Croft Estay was working as an employment facilitator, trying to find meaningful work for her clients with disabilities. The project was born out of those interests meeting.
I have a brother with different abilities. This country has come a long way in education, providing an inclusive and supportive environment for people with disabilities in the classroom, but when it comes to employment, the opportunities are few and far between.
On befriending a member of the Tea Party who wanted to kill the project:
This guy had seen our business plan, and he basically said, “You’re using public funding. You’re designed like a nonprofit but you’re not a nonprofit. I’m going to kill your project.” And we said, “Hey, let’s talk.”
We started going to lunch with him every month, and he actually became one of our biggest advocates. He spoke on our behalf many times, and I believe he was really pivotal to our success. I learned from that process to embrace your detractors as much as your supporters, because you’ve got a lot to learn from them.
On being pioneers in vertical farming:
When we started, the Dutch were the only people doing hydroponic farming. We had consultants who were heavily involved in choreographing the building — and we love our Dutch counterparts, but it was really difficult not having domestic support. Our building is a very complex ecosystem. Every part affects a whole. You don’t know what you don’t know, and you have to move forward despite that fact. There were many places where we kind of looked at each other and said, maybe this isn’t going to work.
On the greenhouse design:
We stacked three greenhouses on top of each other, so that each level has a different microclimate. The middle level has a lot of airflow, so it stays cool. Lettuces like a cool environment. The third level gets much hotter, which is a perfect climate for viney crops.
It’s hard to develop multiple microclimates to grow different crops — [that’s why] so much of the [vertical farming] industry is growing microgreens. But we are very invested in growing a diversity of crops. You can’t feed a community on lettuce alone.
On fighting the bad bugs:
We have an integrated pest management system — bug-on-bug warfare. We have parasitic wasps that are right now patrolling to take care of white flies and aphids.
On the future of Vertical Harvest:
This week we received eight requests for facilities in cities around the world, and that’s a pretty common week for us. We are in the midst of developing a plan to own, operate, and develop seven greenhouses in different communities over the next several years. We have also gotten a contract from Fannie Mae to look at the feasibility of including a vertical farm in an affordable housing plan.
On the power of the work they’re doing:
One of our employees, who was washing dishes all her life, is now in charge of creating 200 pounds of lettuce a week, and has learned a vital skill in a new industry. Another employee can now create and repair vertical farming equipment, which is a totally rare and important skill. He will be a teacher in tomorrow’s farms. We’ve been able to expand what their future would look like, by lightyears.
Hearts of Glass has made the festival route, and had its premiere in Jackson at the start of June. It’s not available to the public yet, but you can catch a free screening in Chicago or Wyoming in the coming months.
Workshop To Feature Hydroponic Technology - September 5, 2019
The workshop, which is sponsored by Purdue Extension, Purdue’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, will focus on teaching attendees about hydroponic production technology
Ashley Langreck | AgriNews Publications
July 31, 2019
Krishna Nemali examines hydroponically grown lettuce in the horticulture and landscape architecture greenhouse at Purdue University. Provided photo/Purdue University
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The fourth annual Greenhouse and Indoor Hydroponics Workshop will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 5 on the Purdue University campus.
The workshop, which is sponsored by Purdue Extension, Purdue’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, will focus on teaching attendees about hydroponic production technology.
Lori Jolly-Brown, who is serves as the Extension events and communications coordinator for the horticulture and landscape architecture department, said the morning session of the workshop will focus on how to get started in hydroponics, where to purchase and find materials, how to fertilize plants, ways to keep bugs away and a wide variety of other topics.
After lunch, Jolly-Brown said, attendees will have the chance to tour one of Purdue’s state-of-the-art greenhouses and indoor hydroponic facilities, while also having the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities.
Jolly-Brown said individuals will be able to interact with workshop organizer Krishna Nemali, a Purdue assistant professor and a controlled environment agriculture Extension specialist.
“They will get to see Nemali’s hydroponic research and vertical farming displays,” Jolly-Brown said.
Jolly-Brown said the workshop is geared toward commercial producers and growers, those just getting started in hydroponics, as well as those who are involved in hydroponics production technology as a hobby.
To register for the workshop, visit https://bit.ly/2OjqTBn.
Ashley Langreck can be reached at 800-426-9438, ext. 192, or alangreck@agrinews-pubs.com. Follow her on Twitter at: @AgNews_Langreck.
Tags Lori Jolly-brown Agriculture Economics Department Of Agriculture Indiana
This Startup Wants To Revolutionize 'Farming' In The Arab World
The Middle East is a region of disparity; huge socio-economic gaps within communities have always existed. For years, the region's chasms were overlooked or deemed impossible to improve
Its vision? To empower local economies, families, and inherently improve their quality of life.
2019-07-28
Source: Tulua.io
The Middle East is a region of disparity; huge socio-economic gaps within communities have always existed. For years, the region's chasms were overlooked or deemed impossible to improve. However, things seem to be changing as a tech-driven startup scene focused on creating a better future for upcoming generations emerges.
One of these businesses is Tulua - the Arabic word for "rise" - a startup invested in technologies to help anyone become a micro-farmer. The initiative aims at decentralizing farming in Middle Eastern countries, helping people and communities generate income through the industry.
Tulua's CEO and co-founder Jonathan Reyes has had a diverse career spanning different industries. His background in tech and interest in artificial intelligence (AI), combined with years of experience in Los Angeles, U.S., pushed him to start his current company.
Reyes moved to the Middle East in 2012 — eager to immerse himself in the region's culture. Shortly after his move, Reyes took a role at STEP Group, the parent company of StepFeed, and explained that he "was very passionate about seeing this new voice emerge giving shape to the modern Arab that loves tech, culture, and change."
Scientists Play With Light And Water To Speed Up Crop Breeding
A number of challenges face crop production around the world, including drought, diseases, pests and limited land. Scientists are tasked with breeding varieties that will produce higher yields but use less land and fewer resources
BY DTN Grains - Loren Lindler | July 27, 2019
OMAHA (DTN) — This twice-monthly column condenses the latest news in the field of crop technology, research and products. Researchers say that by 2050, there could be 10 billion people in the world. A number of challenges face crop production around the world, including drought, diseases, pests and limited land. Scientists are tasked with breeding varieties that will produce higher yields but use less land and fewer resources. To aid in this, some international researchers are experimenting with two new techniques to speed up the breeding process: LED technology and hydroponics.
PLEASE, SIR, CAN I HAVE SOME MORE LIGHT?
Lee Hickey, a plant geneticist at the University of Queensland in Australia, is combining breeding and light-emitting diode (LED) technology to produce a form of “speed breeding.”
Plant breeding can often take years. With speed breeding, researchers are able to use LED lights that are ideal for photosynthesis, which allows researchers to grow crops three times faster, creating more generations in a single year.
Botanists started growing plants under artificial light over 150 years ago. As the years passed, LED technology has vastly advanced, allowing scientists to be more precise by customizing light settings to individual crop species. The Australian researchers exposed their crops to 22 hours of continuous blue and red LED lights, under ideal temperatures, which essentially convinced the plants to flower early. A generation of crops can take months, or even a year, to breed with traditional methods. However, with the use of LED lights and speed breeding, scientists were able to grow six generations of wheat, barley, chickpeas and canola in a year.
A WATERY WONDER
To obtain the fastest breeding results in their greenhouses, scientists at the John Innes Centre in the U.K. are using hydroponics, the practice of growing crops without soil, usually with the use of a water-nutrient solution. Hydroponic techniques allow nutrients and oxygen to reach plant roots quicker.
Many researchers have found that hydroponic plants grow 30% to 50% faster than a plant grown in soil. The ample amount of oxygen in a hydroponics system allows the roots to absorb nutrients much faster, stimulating root growth. The U.K. researchers are taking advantage of this faster-growing time to speed up their evaluation of the genomes of wild relatives of modern crops, which can hold valuable disease-resistance genes.
You can learn more about the LED technology and plant breeding with hydroponics: https://www.nowscience.co.uk/…
Urban Greenhouse Brings New Meaning To Eating Local In Montreal
Often, when you buy fruits and vegetables at your local grocery store, they were actually grown far away. A new initiative east of downtown aims to totally change the relationship between Montrealers and their food. It’s called the Emily De Witt greenhouse
By Dan Spector Photojournalist Global News
WATCH: A coalition of community groups has created an urban oasis where fruit and veggies are grown and sold locally. Global's Dan Spector explains.
Often, when you buy fruits and vegetables at your local grocery store, they were actually grown far away. A new initiative east of downtown aims to totally change the relationship between Montrealers and their food.
It’s called the Emily De Witt greenhouse.
“We want to offer local produce, a product of quality, and we want to do it in partnership with the community,” explained Maxime Comeau, project manager for the greenhouse with Sentier Urbain.
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On Tuesday, Comeau was tending to the beans growing in the greenhouse. There are also tomatoes, eggplants, watermelons and and much more.
READ MORE: Urban farming business finds success in Saskatoon
While it may look like a fairly run-of-the-mill operation from the inside, what’s different about the greenhouse is that it’s right in the middle of a park east of downtown.
“It’s pretty unique,” said Comeau.
The greenhouse is right next to a baseball field at Walter Stewart Park in the Sainte-Marie district.
WATCH: (June 15, 2018) Southern Alberta producers team up to teach Calgary kids about modern farming
Since 2017, the urban greenhouse has been run by a coalition of community groups.
“Food security was a concern over here in the neighbourhood, so we wanted to create a short circuit. The food is produced, delivered, transformed right here in the neighbourhood,” said Amelie Fraser Pelleter of Société écocitoyenne de Montréal.
Food is grown in the greenhouse and then sold at the Solidaire Frontenac Market at the Frontenac Metro station just a few blocks away.
With the small size of their operation, making money is not the goal. The urban gardeners just want to bring people closer to the food they eat and give some Montrealers a better idea of where their fruits and veggies come from.
READ MORE: Lufa Farms takes gardening to a whole new level
“We want people to be a more active part of their own food,” said Fraser Pelletier.
The greenhouse gets support from Centraide and the city of Montreal.
Not only do they provide food and education, but also jobs for vulnerable members of society.
It’s a concept the urban farmers believe can sprout up all over the city.
“We believe it’s possible,” said Comeau.
They’re encouraging people to speak to their own local officials, and plant the seed in their minds to help grow the initiative.
© 2019 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
NASA-Inspired Speed Breeding For Crop Improvement To Feed The Future
NASA experiments to grow wheat in space using continuous light on wheat which triggered early reproduction in the plants were the inspiration for University of Queensland scientists to develop the world’s first ‘speed breeding’ procedures here on planet Earth
June 20, 2019 . | . Ken Ecott
Crop improvements can help us to meet the challenge of feeding a population of 10 billion, but can we breed better varieties fast enough?
Farmers and plant breeders are in a race against time. The world population is growing rapidly, requiring ever more food, but the amount of cultivable land is limited. Warmer temperatures have extended growth seasons in some areas — and brought drought and pests to others.
While a host of fascinating innovations are primed to change the face of agriculture, there remains a stubborn limiting factor for plant breeding. This is the long generation times of crops that allow only one or two generations per year.
This roadblock to progress has been alleviated by speed breeding protocols developed by research teams at the John Innes Centre and the University of Queensland.
Fast-growing plants in the crop-speed breeding facility at The University of Queensland. The plants featured are barley plants. Credit: The University of Queensland
“We face a grand challenge in terms of feeding the world,” said Lee Hickey, a plant geneticist at the University of Queensland in Australia. “If you look at the stats, we’re going to have about 10 billion on the planet by 2050 and we’re going to need 60 to 80 percent more food to feed everybody. It’s an even greater challenge in the face of climate change and diseases that affect our crops that are also rapidly evolving.”
NASA experiments to grow wheat in space using continuous light on wheat which triggered early reproduction in the plants were the inspiration for University of Queensland scientists to develop the world’s first ‘speed breeding’ procedures here on planet Earth.
The team tricked the crops into flowering early by blasting blue and red LED lights for 22 hours a day and keeping temperatures between 62 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Last November, in a paper in Nature, they showed that they can grow up to six generations of wheat, barley, chickpeas and canola in a year, whereas traditional methods would only yield one or two.
Dr Lee Hickey in his speed breeding lab at University of Queensland, 20 June 2016.
Botanists first started growing plants under artificial light — carbon arc lamps — 150 years ago. Since then, advances in LED technology have vastly improved the precision with which scientists can adjust and customise light settings to individual crop species.
So far, the researchers have mainly experimented with one parameter, light, but they have plans to investigate several other method of increasing, growth and generation times.
The team highlight that speed breeding combines well with a range of other developing technologies. These include speed gene cloning a technique developed by Dr Wulff’s team at the John Innes Centre to rapidly scour the genomes of wild relatives of modern crops to identify disease resistance genes which can be bred into elite crops.
This involves using hydroponic culture which gives plant roots quicker access to nutrients and oxygen. A carbon dioxide-enriched atmosphere is also under investigation and one of the most productive areas of research is likely to be temperature.
“One technology alone is not going to solve our problems,” Dr. Hickey said. “We’re going to need all the tools in the shed.”
Dr Hickey believes the sky is the limit for the new technology and he is now investigating the integration of speed breeding with other modern crop breeding technologies.
“It could also have some great applications in future vertical farming systems, and some horticultural crops,” Dr Hickey said.
A review published in the journal Nature Biotechnology outlines continuing efforts to harness speed breeding to a raft of crop technology innovations required to meet the 2050 challenge.
Signify Supports Bryte For Its New Greenhouse Equipment With Hybrid Philips LED Lighting System
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, announces today that it will start an extensive horti project in cooperation with Stolze at Bryte, one of the largest tomato growers in the Netherlands
Signify Supports Bryte, One of The Largest Dutch Tomato
Growers, For Its New Greenhouse Equipment (83,000 m²)
With A Hybrid Philips LED Lighting System
Eindhoven, the Netherlands - Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, announces today that it will start an extensive horti project in cooperation with Stolze at Bryte, one of the largest tomato growers in the Netherlands. For the location in 's-Gravenzande, an 8.3 hectare greenhouse will be equipped with a combination of Philips GreenPower LED top lighting compact and HPS lighting. This solution allows greenhouses to benefit from the advantages of LED top lighting: higher predictability, better quality and an improved yield, as well as lower energy costs.
Bryte was founded in early 2019 as a combination of two renowned growers in the Westland and Voorne Putten areas: Kwekerij Dukker and Zwinkels Tomaten. Two different family businesses, but with a shared DNA. Identical in size, comparable in the way of working and thinking about cooperation in horticulture. For years, these companies have been growing tomatoes that are only known for one thing: their taste.
The introduction of the Philips GreenPower LED top lighting compact as a one-to-one replacement for the existing HPS lighting was the time for Bryte to think about a partial implementation of LED as a hybrid lighting solution for one of the company's seven locations. Compared to a 1,000 W HPS lamp, the Philips GreenPower LED top lighting compact produces the same amount of light using 40% less electricity. The lamp also produces very little radiant heat. Compared to a 600 W HPS lamp, the new energy-efficient LED top lighting compact produces 80% more light with the same amount of electricity.
A total of 180 μmol/m²/s will be realized over a total area of over 8.3 ha of glass, of which 90 μmol/m²/s will come from the HPS lighting and 90 μmol/m²/s from the LED top lighting. The heat and light in the greenhouses can be controlled independently, allowing for a very specific response to the natural lighting conditions. This creates the right balance between the amount of growing light and heat in the greenhouse, resulting in an increased yield and lower energy costs.
"It's good to see one of the largest Dutch greenhouse vegetable growers expressing confidence in LED," says Udo van Slooten, Business Leader Horticulture at Signify. "Bryte recognizes that the Philips GreenPower LED top lighting compact is not only an ideal replacement, but also the ideal addition to the existing HPS lighting in tomato cultivation."
Bryte's starting point is a more efficient growth too: "Our locations must meet the requirements of today and tomorrow in terms of efficiency, food safety, and sustainability. Together, we produce tomatoes on an area of 40 hectares. In summer and in winter, because a large part of the production area is lighted. Our customers are thus assured of a continuous supply, even when outdoor conditions produce poor lighting. We expect that the new hybrid LED installation will enable us to grow more efficiently, while reducing our energy and maintenance costs. A better balance in the greenhouse will result in higher profits," says Tom Zwinkels, Bryte's owner and director.
The whole project will be implemented in close cooperation with Philips horti LED partner Stolze.
AmHydro Partnership With Indian Company Moves Forward
Farms2050 plans to be the hub for hydroponics in India and is ready to provide guidance and consultation to those with interest in turn-key hydroponic solutions
With Many Hands And Hard Work, This Multi-Acre Farm Has Been Built From The Ground Up And Is Now Producing Beautifully
Located in Bengaluru, Farms2050 is the largest hydroponic farm in India where water is scarce, agricultural knowledge abundant and the need for sustainable solutions is urgent.
Farms2050 Timeline:
July 2018 - AmHydro sends 2 containers across the ocean
January 2018 - AmHydro production crew travels for installation
April 2019 - Jenny Harris and Joe Swartz visit for additional training
July 2019 - Farms2050 is in full production
Look at this tremendous transformation!
January thru June
If you build it, they will come.
Farms2050 plans to be the hub for hydroponics in India and is ready to provide guidance and consultation to those with interest in turn-key hydroponic solutions.
If you are one of those people, visit their website or sign up below to have your contact info added to our list
Check Out Their Website!
Or Add Your Name to The Contact List
GLASE - Free Webinar Series - July 25, 2019 - Supplemental Greenhouse Lighting During Propagation
Find out how to properly manage supplemental greenhouse lighting during propagation with Erik Runkle and Roberto Lopez from Michigan State University.
Date: July 25, 2019
Time: 2-3 p.m. EST
Presented by: Erik Runkle and Roberto Lopez
Light is the driving energy source for photosynthesis and carbohydrate accumulation in plants. During propagation cuttings and seedlings require a minimum quantity of light to provide the energy for root initiation and development. Light intensities below this minimum result in little or no root development, leading to a delayed crop or rooting failure. Conversely, too much light can bleach leaves and reduce root formation due to excessive stress on the cuttings.
Find out how to properly manage supplemental greenhouse lighting during propagation with Erik Runkle and Roberto Lopez from Michigan State University.
Register Here
Roberto Lopez
Assistant Professor @Michigan State University
Roberto Lopez earned his master’s degree in 2003 and PhD in 2007 from Michigan State. From 2008 until 2016, he was assistant and then associate professor in horticulture and landscape architecture at Purdue University.
His research focuses on energy-efficient propagation and production of floriculture crops with an emphasis on lighting and temperature management. By controlling environmental factors such as light, temperature, and carbon dioxide, Roberto has been able to influence crop timing, quality, flavor, nutrition, and color in many crops.
His lab is especially focused on light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and recently developed best-practice strategies for LED implementation in greenhouse and indoor sole-source lighting situations.
Erik Runkle
Professor @Michigan State University
Erik Runkle Ph.D, is a professor and extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University. Erik obtained a B.S. in ornamental horticulture from the University of Illinois and an M.S. and Ph.D. in horticulture at Michigan State University.
Since he joining the Michigan State faculty in 2001, Erik and his graduate research team have performed numerous practical experiments in controlled environments to determine the effects of light, temperature, and other environmental factors on plant growth and development. Experiments have been performed on a wide range of herbaceous specialty crops including leafy greens and ornamentals. Erik recently developed the Controlled-Environment Lighting Laboratory to better understand how the light spectrum can be manipulated to produce crops with desired attributes.
To date, Erik has co-edited six books and authored 14 book chapters, nearly 100 papers in scientific journals, and over 250 articles in trade magazines.
The GLASE Consortium Webinar Series features the latest technological innovations and
best practices in the CEA field providing the audience with the opportunity to
discover new solutions and to connect with field experts.
Vertical Greenhouse Production Becoming Popular In Turkey
Turkey is looking to improve its position in the global agriculture market and has directed its focus to vertical greenhouses
Turkey is looking to improve its position in the global agriculture market and has directed its focus to vertical greenhouses.
Vertical greenhouses are expected to triple within the next 30 years and they will bring significant savings in transportation, environmental and energy costs. Vertical greenhouses are expected to be built specifically in major cities in order to save space and to prevent price increase in agricultural products. Additionally, it will create more jobs for the people living in the area.
Vertical greenhouse production is also identified by the government as one of the most important investment areas and the government is offering grants and no-interest credits through state bank programs.
Growers can receive as many as 8 times more products from vertical greenhouses compared to other production methods and it also has significant environmental benefits due to less waste coming from the production process. Irrigation requirements for vertical greenhouses are also less than other production methods and with the right equipment, growers can grow 240 root plants in one square meter.
Source: Yeni Asir
Publication date: 7/4/2019
New Zealand: $2.75m of Funding to Make Northland Hydroponic Horticultural Capital
The partnership will enable Maungatapere Berries, owned by the Malley Family, to develop the first phase of a high-tech education, training and employment operation, as part of a 20ha hydroponic orchard expansion, doubling its workforce to 360 over the next five to eight years
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announces $2.75million of Provincial Growth Fund money for Maungatapere Berries, which grows fruit hydroponically, west of Whangārei.
Northern Advocate
13 Jul, 2019
Northland could become the hydroponic horticultural capital of the country with a $2.37-million Provincial Growth Fund loan going to a Whangarei company to expand its already huge hydroponic operation and create 45 new full time jobs.
The $2.37m PGF partnership was announced by the Minister of Regional Economic Development, Shane Jones, at Whangarei business Maungatapere Berries that will create the first centre for growing excellence in the New Zealand hydroponics horticulture industry.
The partnership will enable Maungatapere Berries, owned by the Malley Family, to develop the first phase of a high-tech education, training and employment operation, as part of a 20ha hydroponic orchard expansion, doubling its workforce to 360 over the next five to eight years.
As new generation growers Patrick and Rebecca Malley said they are excited at the potential of hydroponics as one of the greatest untapped opportunities for the future of sustainable horticulture in Northland.
Maungatapere Berries director Patrick Malley and berryfruit manager Aroha Heta.
"Our plan, as part of the PGF partnership, is to further build on the extensive work the family's business has already undertaken in hydroponics providing permanent employment opportunities for locals in horticulture,'' Patrick Malley said.
"We aim to use it as a template designed to create better paying jobs and lifelong careers for young Northlanders as well as improving the social and economic benefits for local communities.''
The hydroponic orchard will focus on berryfruit and other fruit varieties that flourish when grown hydroponically in Northland's warm semi-tropical climate. He said the hydroponic centre of excellence will become a sustainable farming reference site for Northland growers with the aim of introducing and increasing the production of hydroponic fruit crops in the region and improving the economic opportunities for the Northland region.
The Malley family first started developing part of their 37ha kiwifruit orchard into a hydroponic berry operation four years ago, focusing on growing high-quality, good-tasting fruit to supply the New Zealand domestic market all year round.
They have continued investing and expanding their operation, which employs 45 fulltime staff and an additional 180 staff during the peak season, and includes an advanced packhouse servicing the domestic market, with future plans to export.
He said ongoing research into new fruit crops combined with greenhouse innovation and a strategy to build deep capability has the potential to develop a large environmentally sustainable horticultural industry that supports real growth in living wage employment and social equality for Northland.
Green Life Farms Harvests First Crop In State-of-the-Art Hydroponic Greenhouse
Lake Worth company to begin commercial operations, selling premium baby leafy greens to local customers, later this summer
Lake Worth company to begin commercial operations, selling premium baby leafy greens to local customers, later this summer
Lake Worth, FL (July 18, 2019) – Green Life Farms has harvested its first crop of baby leafy greens at its flagship hydroponic greenhouse in Lake Worth, an important milestone as the company prepares to begin selling to supermarkets, restaurants, cruise ships and other distributors. The facility has recently achieved Substantial Completion, and the team is now harvesting its first crops, which include Baby Arugula, Baby Romaine, and Baby Spinach. Green Life Farms expects to begin growing produce for customers later this summer.
Green Life Farms has harvested its first crop of baby leafy greens at its flagship hydroponic greenhouse in Lake Worth, an important milestone as the company prepares to begin selling to supermarkets, restaurants, cruise ships and other distributors. The facility, pictured above, has recently achieved Substantial Completion, and the team is now harvesting its first crops, which include Baby Arugula, Baby Romaine, and Baby Spinach. Green Life Farms expects to begin growing produce for customers later this summer. Photo credit: Hydronov
“Planting and harvesting our first crop puts us one step closer to delivering produce that is grown locally using sustainable farming practices and free from pesticides and contaminants,” said Mike Ferree, Vice President, Green Life Farms. “We have no doubt customers will be thrilled with the care and dedication we’ve put into the growing process once they smell, touch and taste the baby leafy greens.”
The hydroponic greenhouse, slated to be the largest indoor hydroponic produce grower in the southeast, occupies nearly three acres and will yield approximately 750,000 pounds of premium leafy green produce throughout the year. The greens will be grown, harvested and packaged onsite; they will then be picked-up or shipped directly from the farm. Unlike with conventional farming practices, Green Life Farms’ baby leafy greens are grown without soil, then harvested and packaged hands-free, reducing the risk of contamination and preserving flavor and freshness.
Green Life Farms plans to offer a large selection of products to its customers later this summer, including Baby Spinach, Baby Arugula, Baby Kale, Baby Romaine, Red Romaine Mix, and specialty blends, Southern Style Greens and Gourmet Asian Blend. All Green Life Farms products are free from pesticides and GMOs and grown using sunlight and oxygenated water.
Construction of the Green Life Farms’ flagship facility began in 2018. In preparation for commercial operations, Green Life Farms hired its sales director and head grower earlier this year. The organization is currently hiring a Production Area Supervisor and Growing Area Supervisor. Once those roles are filled, Green life Farms will look to fill out the roster of greenhouse and production staff, totaling 14 additional people in the state-of-the-art facility.
Green Life Farms has harvested its first crop of baby leafy greens, pictured above, at its flagship hydroponic greenhouse in Lake Worth, an important milestone as the company prepares to begin selling to supermarkets, restaurants, cruise ships and other distributors. Green Life Farms expects to begin growing produce for customers later this summer.
Green Life Farms’ hydroponic greenhouse features innovative Deep-Water Floating Raft Technology (FRT) from Hydronov, an industry leader in the hydroponic space with more than 30 years of experience. FRT helps to conserve water, using the oxygenated clean water in which the plants grow as a conveyer system, eliminating the costs and maintenance associated with mechanical conveyers. Green Life Farms will be able to produce 18 harvests each year and use 90 percent less water than conventional farming.
Green Life Farms produce will set new standards for cleanliness, freshness, and taste. Grown locally, using sustainable farming practices, combined with the most advanced AgTech practices, and kept free from pesticides and contaminants, Green Life Farms baby leafy greens are good for the body, family, community, and planet.
For more information about Green Life Farms, visit GreenLifeFarms.ag. Please contact Elayne Dudley at Elayne@GreenLifeFarms.ag for sales and Raymond John at Ray@GreenLifeFarms.ag for investor relations.
About Green Life Farms
Green Life Farms is constructing a 100,000 square foot state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse in Lake Worth, Florida, with additional expansion planned in Florida and beyond. By incorporating agriculture with technology, Green Life Farms will provide consumers with premium-quality, fresh, local, flavorful and clean baby leafy greens that are good for their bodies, families, communities and planet – year-round.
Media Contact:
Tessa Ali, Montagne Communications
603-644-3200 ext. 16
tessa@montagnecom.com
Investor Relations:
Raymond John
561-886-7277
Ray@greenlifefarms.ag
Glase Uses Outreach Activities To Inform And Educate Growers, Manufacturers And Suppliers
The goal of the Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium is to create a more sustainable and profitable greenhouse industry
Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium is using outreach activities to provide controlled-environment growers, lighting manufacturers and service companies with pertinent information to increase energy efficiency and improve their products and operating procedures.
By David Kuack
The goal of the Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium is to create a more sustainable and profitable greenhouse industry. The consortium is a partnership between Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Albany, N.Y. GLASE is supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and by industry partners.
The consortium is conducting research to improve controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operations. Research activities include improving lighting fixtures and systems that synergistically control lighting and developing plant lighting and carbon dioxide control strategies. These strategies would ultimately reduce energy consumption to create a more sustainable and profitable greenhouse industry. Although the focus of GLASE research is on greenhouse production, the findings are expected to have application to other controlled-environment production systems including vertical farms and warehouses.
Information for the CEA industry
In addition to the research being conducted by GLASE, the consortium is also offering a variety of outreach activities to provide growers, lighting manufacturers and service suppliers with information that can assist them in improving their business operations. These activities include webinars, technical meetings and trade journal articles.
“The webinar series is the one activity that GLASE has been doing the longest,” said Neil Mattson, horticulture professor and greenhouse extension specialist at Cornell University and GLASE principal investigator. “The webinars are open to the entire industry. Some have been more oriented towards growers. Others have more application to the supply side, including manufacturers and service providers.”
Improving energy efficiency through benchmarking
“One of the webinar topics we covered is our energy efficiency benchmarking platform, Mattson said. “GLASE worked with sustainability solutions service supplier EnSave Inc.. The company does farm energy audits and also helps farms to apply for grants to make energy efficiency improvements. What the company found working with other agricultural commodities, including dairy farms and poultry producers, is there are more solid benchmarks on how much energy those industries use. The greenhouse industry is highly fragmented in regards to the crops grown and the numerous geographic locations of growing operations. What’s lacking is a unified data bank or benchmarks of typical energy usage numbers for heating and lighting relative to the crops that are grown.”
Neil Mattson at Cornell University said GLASE is using a variety of outreach activities to provide CEA industry members with information that can assist them in improving their business operations.Photo courtesy of Neil Mattson, Cornell Univ.
Because of the diversification of the horticulture industry, Mattson said it has been more difficult to collect energy-use data.
“Through this collaboration with EnSave we are hoping that growers will use this benchmarking database,” he said. “We’ve tested it and we’re trying not to make it too onerous for the growers so it’s as easy as inputting their monthly utility bills. The growers would also input their productivity units, which could be heads of lettuce, pounds of tomatoes or number of 6-inch ornamental plants. We are looking to collect information from both greenhouse vegetable and ornamental plant growers. The data base could accommodate both types of crops.”
“The real strength of this data base would lie in having a critical mass of users. For the individual users of the data base, they would be able to see how their operations compare to other industry benchmarks. Growers would be able to compare their businesses to an anonymous group of similar operations. If growers find they are using more energy per output, they could try to determine why they are using more energy. Nationally this could be useful to growers who are trying to obtain federal funds from grant programs for adopting energy-efficient systems. We would also like to be able to share with the industry some of this anonymous benchmark data that is collected.”
Horticultural lighting label
Another GLASE webinar topic was on a horticultural lighting label. The webinar was presented by A.J. Both, a professor and extension specialist at Rutgers University and member of the GLASE research team.
One of the GLASE webinar topics was the horticultural lighting label which has helped to educate growers about lighting fixtures. Photo courtesy of A.J. Both, Rutgers Univ.
“This webinar was oriented toward greenhouse growers, educating them as to what to look for and what questions to ask lighting manufacturers when they are considering adding lights or looking to make changes to their lighting systems,” Mattson said. “The webinar was also aimed at the lighting manufacturers that potentially would adopt the label.”
Mattson said the lighting label has helped educate growers about lighting fixtures.
“Growers are learning the lighting units to use when comparing lighting fixtures,” he said. “Although lighting manufacturers haven’t adopted the entire label yet, they have incorporated elements of it. Lighting manufacturers have become much better at providing technical specifications. They are talking about lighting units in terms of plant lighting not human lighting. They are talking about micromoles of light instead of lumens of light. Rarely are footcandles used anymore by growers and lighting manufacturers.”
Lighting fixture analysis
Another one of GLASE’s outreach activities is to drive adoption of the horticultural lighting label. GLASE has partnered with Intertek, a total quality assurance provider, to work with its lighting company members.
“Intertek has the specialized equipment for quantifying light output and light distribution,” Mattson said. “Each lighting company that is a GLASE member can submit one lamp a year for testing by Intertek. Intertek conducts a series of measurements with each lamp. GLASE then takes the raw data generated by Intertek and we provide the lighting companies with a lighting label for each lamp that is analyzed.
“There are currently six lighting companies that are GLASE members. This spring we had the first companies take advantage of the lamp analysis. The companies decide whether they want to share the lighting label GLASE provides them. This is a good way to introduce the GLASE lighting company members into the process of what it takes to generate the information that is needed to prepare a lighting label.”
Informational conference calls
GLASE has been offering its members periodic informal conversations on industry-related topics.
“These industry talks enable GLASE members to learn in a more informal setting where there is not a large audience,” Mattson said. “This provides GLASE members more time to have their questions answered by the speakers which could directly help them with their business.”
The first industry talk was a video conference call with lighting researchers Kevin Folta at the University of Florida and Bruce Bugbee at Utah State University who discussed the potential benefits of green light in plants.
“The green light conference call was geared more towards the growers, but GLASE manufacturer and supplier members were also able to participate,” Mattson said. “The informal format for these calls has been conducive to discussion between members and the speakers. There are 20 minutes during which the thought leaders talk about the topic and then that evolves into a question and answer period with the members. The program format enables the participants to have their questions answered.”
One of the informal industry talks offered by GLASE to its members discussed the potential benefits of green light on plants. Photo courtesy of Kevin Folta, Univ. of Fla.
Another industry talk covered power supply and power distribution options for CEA. This call was geared more to the lighting manufacturers. The speakers included Bahram Barzideh, principal engineer of LED lighting components at Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and Frank Cirolia, systems and application engineer at Artesyn Embedded Technologies.
“For LED lights some of the energy is used by the diode,” Mattson said. “This is the energy used to produce the light. Some of the energy is used by the power supply as well as the driver. There have numerous developments in power supplies, which have helped to improve the energy efficiency of the new generation of lights. Regarding power distribution, there are opportunities for improving energy efficiency related to the way power is delivered to the fixtures.”
Articles on research findings
Technical articles about GLASE research results are the newest outreach activity.
“GLASE will be rolling out these articles this summer,” Mattson said. “Some of these articles will be geared more to the growers. Other articles will have application to suppliers and lighting manufacturers.
“Topics will include the plant research and the lighting control studies that we have conducted at Cornell. There will also be articles on designing more energy-efficient lights, which is what researchers at RPI are working on.”
The following articles will appear in CEA-related magazines in the coming months.
July: Multi-spectrum research LED lights
August: Greenhouse light and shade system implementation controls
September: Light distribution measurements in tall canopies
October: Spectral acquisition systems for greenhouses
November: Plant responses to integrated light and CO2 controls
December: Horticultural lighting fixtures analyses
For more: Neil Mattson, Cornell University, School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section, Ithaca, (607) 255-0621; NY 14853; nsm47@cornell.edu; http://www.cornellcea.com; http://www.greenhouse.cornell.edu
Editor’s note: Neil Mattson will be doing three educational presentations at this year’s Cultivate’19, July 13-16, in Columbus, Ohio
Biostimulants: Another Tool for the Grower’s Toolbox
Sunday, July 14, 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
Greenhouse Light and Carbon Dioxide Management to Enhance Crop Yield
This educational session will include information related to GLASE research.
Monday, July 15, 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Lighting Approaches to Maximize Profits (LAMP)
Tuesday, July 16, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
David Kuack is a freelance technical writer in Fort Worth, Texas; dkuack@gmail.com
Posted in Interviews
France: No More Heated Organic Greenhouse Crops Sold In Winter
European organic rules say organic growers have to respect the natural seasons and use energy responsibly and if possible in a renewable way.
Growing organic vegetables in a heated greenhouse. According to various French organizations this is a complete contradiction, but according to the European organic certification rules there's nothing wrong with it. Today the French decided it will remain possible to grow organic in heated greenhouses - although new restrictions will come into place.
The debate
European organic rules say organic growers have to respect the natural seasons and use energy responsibly and if possible in a renewable way. A not very clear guideline - and therefore currently over 40 French greenhouses are heated and organic. This amount is growing: the demand for organic vegetables in France is currently higher than the supply. However, the heating of organic greenhouses is a thorn in the side of many French.
This week nearly 100 Parliamentarians wrote to Didier Guillaume, Minister of Agriculture, to emphasize their support with an online petition, started by the French organic organization FNAB, Greenpeace France and other organizations. Within 6 weeks this petition was signed by over 80,000 people. "We expect you to listen to these voices on July 11th", they said. "Because it's not only about heated greenhouses - it's also about the future of both agriculture and energy in our country."
They called out to refuse the use of heating in French organic greenhouses. According to Philippe Riffared, organic greenhouse grower and co-president of Grab Bio Center, the shelf life of heated produce is way lower and it's grown in a non-sustainable way. "We don't want the consumer to lose faith in the organic label", he says, pointing out the use of CO2 by heated production is way higher than non-heated production. Other growers point out that during summer, the unheated crops are being pushed out of the market by greenhouse-grown tomatoes.
Only producing three months per year
Of course, there's another side to the story as well. Greenhouse growers try to explain how they need heating. "If we have to stop heating our greenhouses tomorrow, it means the French consumer has to buy Spanish produce in April and May. Our quality is much better though", organic grower Jean-Luc Roux told Europe1. He grows his tomatoes with a biomass boiler and therefore reduces the needed carbon dioxide as well.
Horticultural organization FNSEA points out that greenhouse growing helps nature, limiting the use of chemicals and water and saving the soils, and on top of that limiting import needs for produce from Germany, Poland, Israel or Argentina. They say giving up heating would distort competition within Europe, pointing out currently 78% of the French organic tomatoes are imported.
Also the Minister of Agriculture, Didier Guillaume, said Tuesday to senators, the government was "not opposed" to the heating of greenhouses in organic farming. "We are, and I am, very opposed to the counter-seasonality of fruits and vegetables," he insisted.
Debate
It's clear that the debate over unheated greenhouses has heated up in France. The decision on the rules was postponed twice in the last 8 months since there was no unity to be reached. Now the rules have become clear. The Ministry of Agriculture announced heating will be allowed, but on a restricted schedule: there will be no marketing between 21 December and 30 April of organic fruit and vegetables produced in French heated greenhouses, said the Ministry of Agriculture.
On top of that the government plans to impose the use of renewable energy to feed these greenhouses by 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The responses are mixed. "Allowing the sale of organic tomatoes from the first day of spring is equivalent to authorizing the heating of organic greenhouses throughout the winter to more than 20 degrees, the equivalent of 200,000 to 250,000 liters of fuel oil per hectare", said Jean-Paul Gabillard, market gardener and national vegetable secretary at Fnab.
Publication date: 7/11/2019
Modernisation of Greenhouse Complexes in Russia And The CIS
Starting from 2013, the output of greenhouse vegetables (mainly cucumbers and tomatoes) in Russia increased by almost 50%. 95% of greenhouse cucumbers and 65% of greenhouse tomatoes in the domestic market are produced in the country
For the last several years production of vegetables in greenhouses has become one of the major drivers for agriculture. Starting from 2013, the output of greenhouse vegetables (mainly cucumbers and tomatoes) in Russia increased by almost 50%. 95% of greenhouse cucumbers and 65% of greenhouse tomatoes in the domestic market are produced in the country.
Rapid development of greenhouse industry in the CIS is supported by the following factors: high retail prices in the domestic market, relatively low price of labour force, moderate, warm climate and access to the Russian market – major market of greenhouse vegetables in Eastern Europe.
“Development of commercial greenhouses is one of
the priority directions of agriculture. For the last three
years greenhouse vegetable production is rapidly
growing owing to the national support”,
— First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Dzhambulat Khatuov.
Team of analysts from Vostock Capital has prepared the report on modernisation of greenhouse complexes in Russia and the CIS. The report provides relevant updates on reconstruction of obsolete and upgrade of operating greenhouse complexes.
The report includes:
investment projects on greenhouse complexes’ modernisation
preconditions and key modernisation technologies
regional and federal support programmes for commercial greenhouses
Get the report
Investment projects on construction and modernisation of greenhouse complexes will be presented at the the 4th International Investment Greenhouse Complexes Russia Forum 2019, to be held 4-5 December in Moscow.
Silver Sponsors: Signify, GREEN AUTOMATION EXPORT; Bronze Sponsor: Rijk Zwaan, Royal Brinkman. Industry Partner: Greenhouses of Russia Association.
Contacts: Elvira Sakhabutdinova, Project Director
+44 207 394 30 90 (London)
Great Lakes Growers
An early LED adopter, Bonner began trialing LEDs in 2015, and after seeing the success in a small area, expanded his Philips LED toplighting installation in 2016, again in 2017, and will install Philips grow lights with his greenhouse expansion
John Bonner, owner of Great Lakes Growers, discusses how he considered qualitative and quantitative benefits when evaluating LED lighting.
An early LED adopter, Bonner began trialing LEDs in 2015, and after seeing the success in a small area, expanded his Philips LED toplighting installation in 2016, again in 2017, and will install Philips grow lights with his greenhouse expansion.
“LitHouse Uses AmHydro EPIC Nutrient To Capture 4 Cannabis Cup Awards”
LitHouse took 4 awards (including a 1st place in the Sungrown Flower category) at the High Times 2019 NorCal Cannabis Cup on June 1st-2nd
July 9, 2019
AmHydro, industry-leading provider of hydroponic growing systems, crop consulting, grower training, and crop-specific nutrients, is proud to announce the recent Cannabis Cup® victory by grower LitHouse Farm® of Mendocino Coast CA.
LitHouse took 4 awards (including a 1st place in the Sungrown Flower category) at the High Times 2019 NorCal Cannabis Cup on June 1st-2nd . A family run operation since 2002, Lit House has cultivated their crops using the AmHydro EPIC® Cannabis nutrient line. AmHydro EPIC, a 5- stage cannabis nutrient program, is available at https://shop.amhydro.com/collections/epic-nutrients
Congratulations to LitHouse for a job well done!
They will be competing next at the Bay Area Cannabis Cup June 22nd-23rd.
Visit LitHouse at: http://www.lithouse.farm/ and on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lit_house_farm/?hl=en
Urban Denver Building By Tres Birds Houses A Japanese Restaurant And Aeroponic Greenhouse
US firm Tres Birds Workshop has topped a Japanese restaurant in Denver, Colorado with a greenhouse featuring soil-free growing towers
Jenna McKnight | July 4, 2019
US firm Tres Birds Workshop has topped a Japanese restaurant in Denver, Colorado with a greenhouse featuring soil-free growing towers.
The building is located within a block-long, mixed-use development called S*Park, short for Sustainability Park.
Local studio Tres Birds Workshop designed the entire development – which encompasses housing, commercial space and urban farming – near the downtown area of the Colorodo city.
For one corner of the site, the team created a two-story building to house a street-level restaurant and an upper-level greenhouse.
Rectangular in plan, the building consists of a relatively solid base made of brick and concrete. Up above, a fully glazed volume is topped with a multi-gable roof, giving the building a distinctive look.
The ground level was designed for Uchi, an award-winning restaurant that serves up a range of Japanese fare, from wagyu beef and oak-grilled fish to sushi and sashimi. Its first location opened in 2003 in Austin, Texas.
"Uchi creates food with fresh ingredients in ways that defy expectations," said the architects. "The design intent was to support this mission through the programme of the building and the sensory experience of the space."
On the exterior, the restaurant is announced via a large, backlit sign. Visitors step into an L-shaped dining area that is organised around a central sushi counter and bar. The dining area features two rooms with different atmospheres – one is light and warm, while the other makes use of darker tones. Wooden screens help delineate specific zones.
Like other parts of the S*Park development, the architects sought to use common materials in an unexpected way. One of the eatery's most distinctive features is its southern wall, which is composed of reclaimed red bricks and custom-made crystal blocks.
"These crystal bricks transfer light and energy, connecting the comfortable interior to the distant cityscape and the eye of the passerby to the warm light within," the studio said.
The area adjacent to the brick wall features a "chaotic" ceiling installation made of raw wooden planks that were remnants of past projects by Tres Birds Workshop. The timber boards help soften noise and add to the room's sense of enclosure. The darker dining room also has a wooden ceiling installation, although here the slats are arranged in a more orderly fashion.
The dining furniture consists of dark wooden chairs and tables, and booths with tan upholstery. Concrete flooring lends an industrial feel that is countered by the ample use of wood throughout the eatery.
Up above, the team created a 7,000-square-foot (650-square-metre) greenhouse that "supplies the kitchen with the freshest organic greens available throughout the year".
Managed by Altius Farms, the growing area features white, aeroponic towers that require no soil. The plants – which include lettuce, herbs and edible flowers – are regularly misted with nutrient-laden water.
The greenhouse conditions are monitored by sensors that help control heating and cooling and cue the opening of roof and side vents, according to Denver's 303 Magazine. In addition to Uchi, the urban farm provides leafy greens for a number of local restaurants and markets.
With an ever-growing population, Denver has seen a construction boom in recent years. Other projects in the Colorado city include The Source Hotel, which is composed of irregularly stacked volumes, and Zeppelin Station, a large metal-clad building that overlooks train tracks. Both projects were designed by US firm Dynia Architects.
Photography is by James Florio.
Read more: Architecture Glass USA Bricks Restaurants Greenhouses Colorado Denver
SDLN: The Leading AgTech Networking Forum | Connecting Global High-Level Value-Chain Leaders in Miami, Oct 22 - 24
7/9/2019
Press Release – Keynote, a global leading event company for emerging technology, announced today the Company’s next strategic decision to expand into the AgriTech industry through a new event: Sustainability and Digitalization Leadership Network (SDLN) - Miami Forum.
The 2019 SDLN Miami Forum connects AgriTech’s investors with innovators and their ideas, moving the most critical conversations forward to improve the planet’s future in sustainable agriculture and emerging tech. SDLN is dedicated to addressing today’s food supply challenges by creating a platform for collaborative, open dialogue and high- level networking between industry experts from across the globe.
The three-day event at the James L Knight Center in downtown Miami will cater to AgTech seniors with an international attendance of company executives, investors and market consultants. Alongside presentations covering current world projects and tech advances, the forum will feature panels focusing on innovation vs implementation, long term sustainability and investment in the food ecosystem. This carefully curated agenda will feature entrepreneurs and established investors alongside agriculture’s international leaders, intended to provide strategic, tactical skills and knowledge for those attending.
As a hub connecting agriculture across the Americas and beyond, Miami sets the stage for the rapidly expanding industry. Attendees will meet with innovators throughout the supply chain at the SDLN Official Launch, Wednesday 22nd October, as well as a second evening of networking on Thursday 23rd. Further opportunities for breakout sessions led by industry heads, facilitated networking and 1:1 business meetings will follow.
The first round of presenters announced last week includes Howard Yana Shapiro, Chief Agricultural Officer at Mars; Claudia Rössler, Agriculture Strategic Partnerships at Microsoft; David Friedman, CEO at VividGro.
A core advisory board will oversee and advise on partnerships to ensure quality of connections and sustainable business strategy. For enquiries please email lyndsey@sdlnetwork.com
About Keynote:
Hosting international events since 2012 across Europe, North America and the Middle East, Keynote has curated forums for emerging technology industries, launching high profile fintech projects and acting as a platform to raise significant funds, connecting and enabling companies to reach their potential.
Event Website: https://sdlnetwork.com/
Early bird tickets available until 1st August at sdlnetwork.com
For media partnership enquiries: amandah@sdlnetwork.com
For partner and sponsorship enquiries: amy@sdlnetwork.com
Pure Flavor®’s Mini Sweet Pepper Tribelli Seed Wins International Taste Institute Award
“After years of research & development with Enza Zaden, the Tribelli seed has proven to be a key item for our mini pepper program, said Jamie Moracci, President
Leamington, ON (July 1st, 2019)
Unique flavor profiles are driving consumers wild with authentic eating experiences worldwide. While the choices are endless at retail, greenhouse vegetable growers and seed companies are strengthening their partnerships to develop varieties that continue to raise the bar in quality & flavor. Pure Flavor® vegetable seed partner Enza Zaden recently won the prestigious International Taste Institute Award for the company’s Tribelli® seed which produces Pure Flavor®’s Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers.
“After years of research & development with Enza Zaden, the Tribelli seed has proven to be a key item for our mini pepper program, said Jamie Moracci, President. Packed under Pure Flavor®’s Aurora Mini Sweet Peppers brand, Tribelli® comes in a variety of colors, has an exceptional taste profile, very low seed count, and comes from a plant that produces a consistent flavor, size, and quality, regardless of the season.
“Our partnership with Enza Zaden on this variety is an important one, we have worked very hard on building this brand of mini sweet peppers to meet the needs of retailers expanding their snacking category of items. As a vertically integrated grower, it is a true honor for Enza Zaden to receive the International Taste Institute Award for the Tribelli variety of mini sweet peppers”, said Moracci.
At the International Taste Institute, all products are analyzed, judged, and scored following a strict and objective methodology through a blind tasting panel. While not knowing the origin of the products they are tasting, the experts also give comments and suggestions to the producers to guide them for future product improvements or new item launches. Depending on the results of the sensory analysis, certified products are awarded the Superior Taste Award with one, two or three stars, somewhat similar to Michelin stars. The Tribelli® variety was awarded the Superior Taste Award with two stars.
“Tribelli® has earned praise from the most sophisticated palates, proving that it is more than just a pepper. Tribelli® is the concentration of an intense flavor, where taste is always what makes the difference in customers’ experience,” commented Jean-Francois Thomin, Marketing Manager, Enza Zaden North America.
Grown in a variety of very distinct colors, Enza Zaden partners with Pure Flavor® to develop the product in high tech greenhouses all throughout North America. Pure Flavor® has grown the Tribelli® seed that produces the multiple colors of Aurora Sweet Mini Sweet Peppers for the last 5 years. “I believe Enza Zaden is cracking the code to more vegetable consumption worldwide by developing seed varieties that are flavor forward and building a portfolio of cutting-edge innovations like Tribelli®”, said Thomin.
“As a brand, we take great pride in marketing the exceptional characteristics of the strategic varieties that we grow. Consumers let us know all the time how much they enjoy the product and how easy it is use, no matter the application,” commented Matt Mastronardi, Executive Vice-President. Pure Flavor® has developed an extensive variety of recipe ideas for consumers to create their own dishes from. The flavor strategy for all of Pure Flavor®’s recipes is to ensure exceptional eating experiences where the consumer can fully enjoy the key characteristics of the ingredients in the dish.
The Tribelli variety plays an important role in Pure Flavor®’s product offering not only as the Aurora Mini Sweet Peppers brand but also as a key ingredient in the Pure Flavor®’s Mini Munchies Snack Sized Veggie Program. The Mini Munchies pack contains Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers, Juno Bites Red Grape Tomatoes, and Poco Bites Cocktail Cucumbers in a convenient 4oz pack.
“I love all the the mini sweet peppers, they are so colorful, crunchy, and sweet. I eat them on their own or with hummus in my lunch at school. My favorite one is the Orange one as it has very few seeds,” said Layla, age 13. Pure Flavor® provides fresh vegetable snacks like the Aurora Mini Sweet Peppers to schools in Leamington, ON, San Antonio, TX, and Fort Valley, GA as part of the company’s ‘Adopt-A-School’ Program.
Grown in high tech greenhouses, Pure Flavor®’s Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers are available year-round in pre-packaged to bulk formats for both retail & foodservice customers.
To learn more about Pure Flavor®’s Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers, please visit Pure-Flavor.com/MiniSweetPeppers
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About Pure Flavor® -
Pure Flavor® is a family of greenhouse vegetable growers who share a commitment to bringing A Life of Pure Flavor™ to communities everywhere. Our passion for sustainable greenhouse growing, strong support for our retail & foodservice customers, and focus on engaging consumers is built on a foundation drawn from generations of growing expertise.
We are the next generation of vegetable growers, inspired to put quality, flavor, and customers first by providing greenhouse-grown vegetables from our farms that are strategically located throughout North America.
About The International Taste Institute (formerly ITQi) -
The International Taste Institute, is an independent organization formed by top Chefs and Sommeliers with Michelin star accreditation. The Institute is dedicated to certifying superior tastes of food & beverages worldwide. The jury of experts and opinion leaders from the gastronomy sector, is selected from the sixteen most prestigious professional culinary associations in Europe.