HortiMaX secures follow-up order with leading US organic farm

Grimmway Farms, based in Bakersfield, California, is one of the largest producers of organic produce in the world. This enormous company started out by growing vegetables in the fertile soil of Kern County over 30 years ago and is now probably best known for its carrots. If you take a look at their website (www.grimmway.com), you're proudly presented with the following announcement: ‘We were recently awarded the ChefsBest Award for producing the top-rated Baby and Petite Peeled Carrots and are pleased to have held this award since 2007.’

This success, which had definitely not gone unnoticed, created a demand for other organic crops, such as tomatoes and sweet peppers. In 2008, Grimmway took its first step towards protective growing by constructing a 2-hectare (or 5-acre) test glasshouse facility under the name of Crystal Organics. This was also when HortiMaX, or more specifically its Global Solutions Department, came into the picture. HortiMaX was awarded a contract to provide a complete engineering solution (e.g. the electrics, and irrigation and computer systems) in the glasshouse facility. This included the installation of tried-and-tested HortiMaX solutions, such as the Synopta computer management software, the MultiMa XP control computer, HAF fan systems and pump sets, and of course an integrated engineering design carried out in collaboration with the glasshouse builders. Since its completion, Crystal Organics has performed a wide range tests and experiments with various organic crops, growing gutters and organic materials, such as organic fertilisers. The crops that were tested were mainly tomatoes, sweet peppers and cucumbers.

Crystal Organics has now decided to double the glasshouse area to 4 hectares (or 10 acres) and awarded HortiMaX a follow-up order. This will include the installation of a new irrigation unit, a MultiMa XP upgrade, more fan systems and, of course, an integrated engineering solution. What is so remarkable about this follow-up order is that Grimmway is able to use HortiMaX’s know-how in integrating the computer systems, electrics and irrigation units, while leaving the glasshouse construction to its own team of engineers. The company plans to eventually extend the glasshouse facility to 8 hectares (or 20 acres) and has plenty of room for further enlargements. HortiMaX has, therefore, secured a major customer in Tehachapi, California, which is situated at an elevation of 1210 metres (or 3,970 feet) and is a 30-minute drive from Grimmway’s headquarters in Bakersfield.