|
Growth for the Sake of Growth
Emerald Coast Growers expands perennial propagation space
Pensacola, Fla., November 17, 2010 – Emerald Coast Growers, of Pensacola, Florida, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, sees growth and potential for more in the perennial young plant market. The company is gearing up by adding three new greenhouse blocks at two of its Florida locations.
At headquarters in Pensacola, two new houses totaling about 15,000 square feet are dedicated to propagating some of the company's hundreds of perennial varieties. The gas-heated, double-poly structures are equipped with mist irrigation and grow lights. As of early November, they were finished and being covered.
The company's largest facility is a 50-acre farm near Milton, FL, where most grasses are field-grown and divided in greenhouses. Here, the third house will bring 20,000 square feet online with a target completion date of January 2011.
The greenhouses are XS Smith's Criteria series, which Co-Owner Paul Babikow called "the perfect house for the Southeast, and the price is right. For what we needed, these were a great fit."
Best known for liners of ornamental grasses, Emerald Coast also propagates a wide range of perennials, said Marketing Manager John Friel. "Grass sales remain strong, but we're seeing more growth in perennial starters," Friel said. "It's encouraging, especially in this tough economy."
Friel speculated that the recession may even be a driving force. "We see a shift to a different type of gardening and landscaping," he explained. "It's an overused word, but many in the industry believe that consumers and professionals want more sustainability."
At the same time, Sales Manager and Co-Owner Cheri Markowitz said, "There's also interest in softer products, like the annuals in the Athens Select™ and Southern Living™ Plant Collection programs. And demand for the annual ornamental grasses Pennisetum 'Rubrum', 'Fireworks' and 'Skyrocket' is just tremendous."
"Our growers are excited. They can't wait to get into these houses," Friel said. "It's always more efficient to start from scratch with something that's built to do exactly the job you need done."
|
