February 2020 - 8

BOWERY
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happening with Amazon Fresh, with
Walmart Online Grocery, MMM Fresh,
Peapod - all these online companies.
" Although people will always go
to the grocery store - particularly
for produce, because people just like
that experience, " she said. But local
sales don't have to be restricted to
storefronts; millennials do buy online.
" When we think about how consumers
choose, 53% of millennials seek out
locally-grown produce, " so Amazon
knows locally-grown produce matters.
Bowery Farming early on reached
out to Amazon Fresh and determined
they could use the service to sell
only to local zip codes. The company
typically meets with new customers to
explain what sets it apart as a vertical
farm that uses artificial intelligence
and robotics in its operations. The
second meeting, for serious customers,
is usually a tour of the farm.
" Once they saw what we're doing,
they were incredibly enthused and
asked us to start selling for them, "
Cugini said.
How they grow
The group grows floor-to-ceiling
at two warehouse-style farms in New
Jersey - the third and largest of its
farm operations is located in the
Baltimore, Maryland area. They grow
A vertical stack of growing platforms at one of Bowery's farms.
a variety of romaine, red and green
oakleaf and butterhead lettuces in
addition to arugula, bok choy, mustard
greens and baby kale, and herbs: basil,
parsley, cilantro. They have plans to
add spinach next year, Cugini said.
Natural " white light " is mimicked
by LED lights. The plants nestle into
a peat substrate and are fed nutrients
hydroponically, in a closed-loop
system that recycles water. In this
controlled environment, Bowery
Farming can grow a variety of greens
and herbs without pesticides and
herbicides. Although hydroponic
and aquaponic have been eligible
for organic certification, Bowery
and many other hydroponic growers
haven't pursued organic certification,
but remain committed to the highest
industry standards of indoor growing.
" At a Bowery farm, we implement
many different types of strategies
to ensure our growing environment
produces high-quality leafy greens
and herbs without the need for
such inputs, " Cugini said. " A few
strategies include management of
irrigation water sourcing and quality,
routine sanitation and a robust pest
prevention program. "
Plants are also monitored by
cameras and sensors.
" As a crop is growing, the cameras
will take pictures and it will notice
when something's changing, " Cugini
Exploring nature never stops
HIGH FLAVOR FROM BEJO
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Round 2 oz. fruit with flavor that compares well with heirlooms.
Good uniformity, highly crack-resistant; long shelf life. Available as
organic seed.
HR: Va/Fol (1,2)/ Pi
 IR: As
MOUNTAIN VINEYARD
First of its kind- this grape tomato contains the crimson gene for
high lycopene, resistance to TSWV and fusarium 3. Glossy dark red
with appealing red locular gel. Firm with a balanced sweet flavor.
Crack resistant and no " yellow eye. " Compact indeterminate vine
with short internodes. Heavy pruning recommended.
HR: Va/ Fol (1,2,3)/TSWV
Contact:
 Darren Howard- Tomato Sales Manager
 954-304-1411
 d.howard@bejoseeds.com
6 | VegetableGrowersNews.com
 bejoseeds.com
http://www.bejoseeds.com http://www.VegetableGrowersNews.com
February 2020

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