Wish Farms Expands Its Florida Strawberry Farm
PLANT CITY, FL - Strawberry lovers of the world can rejoice, as Wish Farms has announced that it will be expanding its Florida strawberry farm operation, G&D Farms. The company has revealed that it will be adding acreage to the operation which will allow for increased production of the brand's delicious strawberry varieties.
“This expansion is very exciting for our team. Not only is the land directly adjacent to our current farm, but we can immediately start farming organically,” explained Chris Parks, Farm Manager. “The ground hasn’t been utilized for many years, so we can bypass the regulated waiting period. It gives us a lot of flexibility with rotation, ensuring that we are good stewards of the land.”
G&D Farms, named after one of the original Founders of the company, was established in 1987 and is already known for its sprawling size, according to a press release. The purchase of new land will add over 800 acres to the operation, 600 of which will be designated for farming. 200 acres of the newly acquired property is natural wetlands that will be left undisturbed for environmental sustainability and biodiversity.
This coming season, Wish Farms will be cultivating 55 acres and plans to gradually ramp up usage with each season after that. As of now, the farm is 90 percent Sweet Sensation variety, but several rows are being dedicated to 100 new varieties and seedling trials. Seven acres have also been planted with the specialty white strawberry variety Pink-A-Boo Pineberries.
“I believe there will be strong demand for Pink-A-Boos in the coming years, and this land will allow us to expand that program without having to reduce our red strawberry acreage,” said Owner Gary Wishnatzki.
As the Florida-based operation continues to expand, it will also be using innovative techniques to help reduce usage of non-organic pesticides. Including the use of predator Persimilis Mites as an organic method to control Two-Spotted Spider Mites.
“The same effective organic method has worked really well for our non-organic crop. This season we started experimenting with drones that scout and release. If it works, it could be a major boost to our farm’s efficiency,” continued Parks.
As companies across the industry continue to expand their operations, keep a tab open for AndNowUKnow, as we keep our ears to the newswire to bring you the latest.
