DRIP TAPE 2.0 Growers try new irrigation products, techniques Stephen Kloosterman Associate Editor Drip irrigation has been used to conserve water for decades, but technology is empowering growers to take increasingly complex approaches to irrigation. The upsides to drip irrigation are obvious to most growers - it not only conserves water compared to traditional methods but also can be a means for distributing water-soluble nutrients. Drip tape is now being deployed in different kinds of crops, provided to growers in different ways and used with higher-tech equipment than was previously possible. Here are some drip tape innovation stories from Western vegetable growers: Ocean Mist Farms Ocean Mist Farms grows a variety of vegetables but is best known for artichokes, in Castroville, California. Ninety percent of its operations use drip tape - which the company said uses 70% less water than sprinkler irrigation, and also saves on electrical and labor needs. Ocean Mist High-Tech Tools 2019 Farms CEO Joe Pezzini said drip irrigation has changed since the vegetable grower 6 | VegetableGrowersNews.comhttp://www.VegetableGrowersNews.com