A few things to keep in mind as you read my article… First, it’s written from the perspective of an American active in the CEA industry since 2004. Second, it’s written from the perspective of someone who invested their own money and sweat into the industry. And, finally, it’s written from the perspective of someone who wants the industry to succeed. For the past few months, many in the industry have focused on the negative — it’s hard not to. They point out the amount of companies failing or falling on financial hardship. They focus on the lack of new…
Author: Chris Higgins
Let your voice be heard. Why writing to your congressperson is good for your farm. I expect the first response from many is: Why would I? I did not vote for them. Fair point. I’ve felt that way too. Yet I’ve come to realize that even if you didn’t vote for your congressperson, they still represent you. This is how representative democracy works. Like many of my friends who are veterans, I believe in the right to protest. Their sacrifices remind me that they fought to protect that right. But if you truly want to effect change, protesting is only…
Tariffs have taken over business conversations the last few weeks. It’s obvious many do not actually understand how they work. As a co-owner of a company that imports and exports many items, I thought it would be helpful to many if I explained them clearly and simply so farmers, greenhouse operators and growers of all types could understand and prepare for how they might impact their businesses. What is a tariff? Simply put, a tariff is a tax (also called a duty) paid on imports or exports of goods coming in or out of a country. Who pays the tariff?…
How often do you use the warranty tied to products you purchase? In my personal life, I seldom buy big-ticket items and rarely think about the warranty associated with them, unless it’s something like an automobile or major appliance. Why? Because when I try, the manufacturer often makes the process so difficult or costly that it’s not worth my effort. But, in my professional life, I see product warranties much differently, especially when I make larger purchases or when my company, Hort Americas, represents a vendor. We must be confident in the products we sell and the brands we stand…
Last year challenged the commercial horticulture and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry in almost every way possible. Whether greenhouse, vertical or indoor production of fresh produce, or other specialty crops, 2024 erased the excitement around new technologies that were supposed to change the way we consume and cultivate fresh produce. As you read, remember what a crucible moment is:A crucible moment is a challenging situation or experience that forces you to confront your character, values, and identity, leading to a transformative change or a pivotal decision that shapes your future trajectory; essentially, a moment of intense adversity where one’s true…
As consumers, do we care if specialty crops are grown in a controlled environment? Do we care if the process is sustainable? Do we care if crops are locally grown? Last year we published The 2023 Controlled Environment Agriculture Market – How are we evolving? (We recommend reviewing this article, as it provides background for the 2024 review.) This year we are revisiting some discussion points, plus attempting to tackle the changes we saw in just one short year. And boy did we see changes. This article continues to focus on the U.S. controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry. But we…
The term “AI” or artificial intelligence is increasingly being discussed in all facets of life. This is true for commercial horticulture as well. Whether you grow ornamental crops, cannabis or greenhouse vegetables there are numerous companies that are promising to optimize processes, increase efficiency, and improve overall crop yields. But, what are they really doing? Does it work? Will it work? Should I invest? After having many conversations with growers in greenhouses, vertical farms and other indoor (and outdoor) growing facilities, we decided to put together a short article outlining the types of technologies being proposed and their capabilities at…
Early in the ag-tech, vertical farm and greenhouse-grown movement, everyone talked about reasons for innovating the way we farm. Industry insiders discussed everything from changing the way we feed the future to the demand for more locally grown fresh produce options. Hundreds of millions of dollars were raised to meet what investors felt were market demands. Now the economy, access to money and the cost of money has changed. Also, many farms that were recently built are now out of business. This leads me to a few questions: Was there ever a real need for locally grown fresh produce? If…
If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. We all know brands with products and services that represent quality. But have you ever been the person responsible for selling quality? For earning the premium price associated with producing quality products? Since my first job in 1996, every company I worked for, represented or owned believed they had the highest quality product in their market or class. However, I now realize that believing you have the best (even if it is true) does not mean you can convince your customer or that your customer values quality in the same…
In July 2023, I posted the article The 2023 Controlled Environment Agriculture Market – How Are We Evolving? After fielding several questions and comments from industry professionals who I really respect, I feel the need for one (maybe two) follow-up articles. This article is first because I firmly believe labor is the biggest challenge we face today, as well as for the next 10 years in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), and in commercial horticulture and general production agriculture. Victor Loaiza Mejia posted the following on LinkedIn on August 10, 2023: “I disagree with your assessment of the lack of ‘grower…
Photo: AppHarvest, Somerset Kentucky The U.S. controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry received lots of publicity over the past 10 years. From interviews on CNBC to articles in Forbes, investors and the general business community found interest in an industry that seemed new despite the fact that it was anything but. (If you are interested in the definition of and more information on the controlled environment agriculture and the indoor ag tech industry, please click here.) This new interest led to substantial capital invested into greenhouses, vertical farms, and other companies supporting the commercial ag-tech and horticulture industry. All this “noise”…
Photo: Close friend and Kansas farmer enjoys a break. Credit: Chris Higgins Thoughts of a businessman just trying to figure it out, while not messing up. “Isn’t it pretty to think so?” – The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway In a previous article, I posed the question, Who Should Lead The Environmental Movement? In this follow up-piece, I want to explain why I struggle seeing myself or any other small, medium or large business owners being leaders or role models in this movement. You see, I believe most of us start or go into business for similar reasons. We also…
Photo: Chris Higgins, Hendersonville NC. Recent company failures and layoffs will likely have people second guessing their commitment to the agtech movement and possibly controlled environment agriculture (CEA). The past 15 years of my career have seen a rollercoaster of interest in my chosen industry. In the 2000s, the Canadians and Mexicans drove investments as they rapidly expanded to give U.S. consumers year-round access to greenhouse-grown tomatoes. Then, starting between 2010-2015, vertical farmers and greenhouse leafy greens producers again jumped at the opportunity to rapidly scale new ideas as consumers demanded locally grown options. Also, investors (flush with cheap capital)…
Greenhouse and Vertical Farm Vegetable Production Is All About Balance. Ever wonder what’s the difference between a good grower and a great grower? I recently made a post on Linkedin that brought out some amazing comments from professional growers. It also highlighted the fact that those new to our industry do not understand the terminology we commonly use. In fact, most of these terms mean something completely different to professionals from other industries looking to join the world of controlled environment agriculture. (Don’t know exactly what controlled environment agriculture means? Follow this link.) In Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), we used…