Questions answered by Rebecca Nelsson
What is the best market in your area, farmers markets, grocery stores,
restaurants, or somewhere else?
We have 7,000 sq ft in controlled environment hydroponic production.
The primary crop is tomatoes, but we also grow hydroponic cukes, basil
and beans commercially. We market all of our produce directly to
non-chain grocery stores. We've found the large chains in our area
(Central California) to be difficult to get into unless you can supply
all of the stores within the chain.
Are your herbs dry or fresh? How do you package your vegetables & herbs?
We sell the basil fresh because there is a demand for it and the
wholesale price is quite high. We take cutings from each plant weekly,
tie them in a bunch and package the bunches in clear plastic containers
that have a little well in the bottom that we put a moist plant cube in
for the stem to stick into. This keeps the basil alive and even
growing. The stores and customers love the presentation and the fact
that the fresh basil keeps for over a week in this container.
We hand-pack the tomatoes in colorful, singe layer, 10-lb tomato boxes.
We place a label on each tomato that tells the customers that it is vine
ripened, hand picked and hydroponically grown. The label also has our
trademarked product name (Grandpa's Garden) on it.
Where do you get thin plastic clamshell boxes and other packaging for
herbs?
The container I described above is availables from CropKing
330-769-2002. A company that has an extensive catalog of containers
for fresh produce is Monte Packaging 800-653-2807
What price do you get for your various herbs?
We wholesale the basil ( 1.5-2.0 oz) in the containers for $1.00 -
$1.25/each
If you grow basil, what varieties do you grow?
Italian Large Leaf
Purple Ruffles
Are there any value-added products that you make with your herbs orvegetables?
We plan to add a seasoning mix of dried tomatoes and basil. It is a
great way to use the tomato seconds
Rebecca Nelson
Aquaponics Journal
209-742-6869
http://www.aquaponics.com
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