Florida Tunnel Production Growing Undercover Florida Tunnel Production By: Skeeter Bethea

Florida Production Located nearly at sea level about 25 miles east of the Sarasota Coast on the Gulf of Mexico is Enza Zaden’s Myakka City, Florida Research Station. This location presents a favorable climate for tunnel production, though not without it’s challenges. Florida’s mild winters bring an average low of 48F (Lowest recorded 18F) and has an average of only 5 days per year with below freezing temperatures. Those temperatures are balanced by high annual temperatures averaging 92F. The highest recorded temperature reached a steamy 105F, and Florida sees approximately 134 days per year at about 90F. Florida is also one of the highest light environments on the East coast. Those warm temperatures are assets, but heavy rain and frost threaten production.

Specs

The Tunnel Concept We use gutter connected, 28’ wide by 150’ long tunnel spans that are covered in a single layer of polyethylene with 88% light transmission. With the use of roll up doors, arched end cap vents, and the use of Svensson’s OLS30 shade cloth over the trellis, we successfully achieve a “Passive Ventilation” system that keeps optimal temperature in the growing zone. The porous ceiling of the shade cloth inside the tunnel creates a barrier with the hottest air being concentrated in the attic space and ventilated out through the arched end cap vents by wind and buoyancy.

Gutters

Open View

Airflow

Airflow

Airflow

Tunnel Attic Tunnel Growing Zone Outside

Temperature Monitoring

Pollination

Harvest Goals Planting Date Harvest Window Round Tomato Yield Colored Pepper Cucumber* 9/15 12/1 – 5/1 20lbs/plnt 11lbs/plnt 15lbs/plnt *Cucumbers are a 10 week harvest so you would need 3 plantings to span the same Window as the tomatoes and pepper.

Pepper

Pepper

Tomatoes

Cucumber

Determinates

Contact Information Cravo Ben Martin 905-317-3546 benjaminM@cravo.com Tunnel Tech Kathleen Fouse 717-208-1693 1-855-TTTunnels k.fouse@tunneltech.com

Skeeter Bethea william.bethea@enzausa.com Thank You! Thanks for the opportunity Thanks to Enza Zaden Any questions? Skeeter Bethea william.bethea@enzausa.com