Vegetable Industry’s 34 Power Growers In 2014
October 6, 2014 American Vegetable Grower (AVG) magazine knows acreage is just one way to measure success. That’s why AVG editors have polled industry experts and asked about different types of leaders: operations they think are moving vegetable production and marketing forward, regardless of the size of their farm.
Based on their recommendations, we compiled the 2014 Power Growers list, in the hopes that some of the things you read here will inspire ideas you can adapt with your farm.
Browse year’s 34 power growers, starting with the West.
West
Troy Boutonnet, VP of production for Ocean Mist Farms
California:
Christensen & Giannini, Salinas
The farm has nearly 7,000 acres of vegetables and ensures its success by paying attention to details.
D’Arrigo Brothers, Salinas
Producing more than 36,000 acres of cool-season vegetables, this farm has a diversified line of products, is innovative, and conducts its own research.
Full Belly Farm, Guinda
Marketing and innovation is what separates this grower from others. The operation offers community supported agriculture market baskets and has an annual Hoes Down Harvest Festival that attracts more than 1,000 visitors.
Ocean Mist Farms, Castroville
Producing nearly 25,000 acres of cool-season vegetables, this operation is innovative and willing to try new production tactics.
Tanimura & Antle, Salinas
One of the giants in the Salinas Valley producing more than 25,000 acres of vegetable crops, T&A successfully manages a very large program and a diversified line of products.
Robert Sakata of Sakata Farms, (right) is also the recipient of the American Vegetable Grower’s 2014 Grower Achievement Award. Photo credit: Tracey Pliskin
Southwest
Colorado:
Isabelle Farm, Lafayette
Isabelle Farm grows 120 acres of organic produce, distributing to both retail and wholesale, and operates a 350-member CSA. The farm was an early adopter of on-farm food safety practices.
Sakata Farms, Brighton
American Vegetable Grower’s 2014 Grower Achievement Award winner farms more than 2,500 acres. Owner Robert Sakata is president of the Colorado Fruit and Veg-etable Association.
Southeast
Georgia:
Ken Corbett Farms, Lake Park
This operation is home to a state-of-the-art packing facility that keeps produce in a climate-controlled environment until it reaches the grocery store.
Lewis Taylor Farms, Tifton
Lewis Taylor Farms grows more than 4,000 acres of mixed vegetables, and was the first farm in Georgia to have a third-party audit completed by the Georgia GAP program.
Southern Valley Farms, Norman Park
The farm is well known for its pole-grown cucumbers. It has looked into offshore production by starting an operation in Mexico.
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Alabama:
Jack-O-Lantern Farm, Muscle Shoals
Jack-O-Lantern Farm started out growing greenhouse tomatoes. The farm’s focus has shifted over time and it also grows lettuce and a mix of field-grown vegetables on approximately 5 acres.
Aplin Farms, Dothan
This 200-acre farm markets its produce through wholesale, farmers markets, and U-Pick. It is a major destination on the agritourism map of Alabama with its corn maze, pumpkin patch, and other family-oriented activities.
Randle Farms, Auburn
This diversified family farm produces vegetables, fruits, and livestock. A 100-member CSA program supports the 25-acre fruit and vegetable operation. Grower Zach Randle regularly partners with Auburn and Tuskegee Universities for research projects.
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Virginia:
C&E Farms, Cheriton
This operation was a pioneer of hydro-cooling green beans, setting a new industry standard. Its dedication to service and quality has made C&E’s brand, Red Barn Label green beans, a top choice among consumers.
Cullipher Farms, Pungo Ridge
The farm focuses on sustainable and ecological production practices by employing IPM techniques.
Parker Farms, Oak Grove
This farm is a managing entity of the Northern Neck of Virginia Farmer’s Market, and has a stake in 3,000 acres of farms in Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, and Florida.
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Florida:
C & B Farms, Clewiston
C & B Farms is a diversified vegetable operation with 1,000 acres of conventional and 500 acres of organic production. The operation grows multiple herbs and different types of ethnic vegetables.
R.C. Hatton Farms, Pahokee
With state-of-the-art green bean packing lines, R.C. Hatton was one of the first to use RPC’s for sweet corn, and has a model food safety program. The farm produces 8,000 acres of sweet corn, watermelon, and green beans.
Riverdale Potato Farms, Elkton
Riverdale Potato Farms grows 1,000 acres of potatoes. They installed new and alternative irrigation systems to replace the traditional seepage irrigation used in the area.
North
Iowa:
Grinnell Heritage Farm, Grinnell
Grower Andy Dunham is active with the Practical Farmers of Iowa and has given many talks and presentations to fellow growers. He has installed large coolers for postharvest handling and storage.
Rinehart Farms, Ogden
Owner Greg Rinehart has two high tunnels in which he experiments with different crops. Recently he has begun contracting with Birds Eye to grow processing sweet corn and peas.
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Illinois:
The Great Pumpkin Patch, Arthur
This operation features 63 acres of more than 300 varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds from 30 countries, and welcomes more than 50,000 visitors each year.
Rendleman Orchards, Alto Pass
Rendelman has a complete no-till vegetable transplant pro-duction system, which consists
of transplants being direct planted into cereal rye and crim-son clover.
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Indiana:
Kercher’s Sunrise Orchards, Goshen
Sunrise Orchards grows more than 800 acres of vegetables and was one of the first tray packers in the Midwest with its Sunrise Select Super Sweet Corn 4-Pack.
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Pennsylvania:
Benedict Produce Farm, Chambersburg
Owner Keith Benedict pays close attention to soil and leaf testing, and fine-tunes pesticide applications to maximize production of quality produce.
Brian Campbell Farms, Berwick
Brian Campbell Farms was key in changing the base yield of sweet corn for disaster payment in Pennsylvania.
Mike Fink’s Produce, Germansville
This farm recently expanded production by purchasing farmland in north central Pennsylvania to start growing processing crops.
Miller Plant Farms, Harrisburg
Miller Plant Farms received a Century Farm award from the state Department of Agriculture, and has an 11,500-square-foot retail greenhouse.
Spiral Path, Loysville
Spiral Path produces organic vegetable crops for its CSA, serving hundreds of members at 44 different pickup locations.
Strites Orchard, Harrisburg
Strites Orchard offers a variety of crops from broccoli to onions. Jonathan Strite’s motto is “Buy fresh, buy local.”
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New York:
K.S. Datthyn Farms, Sodus
Ken Datthyn embraces new onion production practices for his Dutchboy brand onions that will reduce inputs and maximize profits.
Maureen Torrey of Torrey Farms, is also a past recipient of American Vegetable Grower’s Grower Achievement Award.
Gotham Greens, New York
Jenn Nelkin Frymark directs hydroponic production at Gotham Greens, a rooftop greenhouse company. A recent project is the rooftop greenhouse on a new Whole Foods market in Manhattan.
Mortellaro Farms, Elba
Matt Mortellaro looks for new onion production and protection practices that will reduce inputs and maximize profits. He collaborates on Cornell University research projects.
Torrey Farms, Elba
A past Grower Achievement Award recipient, Torrey Farms produces a variety of vegetables on approximately 7,000 acres. The principal players on the farm advocate for our industry.
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