What Are the Benefits of Certified Greenhouse-Grown?

The Certified Greenhouse Farmers Certification Standard requires Scientific Certification Systems to audit the sustainability measures taken by our members. From our 2012 audit results of our members, we know that Certified Greenhouse growing offers the following unique benefits:

Water Conservation
Certified Greenhouse growing uses less water per acre than vegetables grown in soil. Some greenhouse growers source water for cooling and irrigation by capturing rainfall. Growing in a controlled environment with computerized irrigation and climate control systems minimize water use while still ensuring optimum growing conditions. One of our growers uses 87 percent less water than would be used in field production. All of our members use drip irrigation, where water is delivered directly to the root of the plant. Then, this irrigation water is captured and recycled, with growers treating and then reusing 100 percent of the re-circulated water.

No Fumigants or Herbicides are Used
As greenhouse vegetables are grown in coco fiber or other recyclable material, there’s no soil and, therefore, no need to use soil fumigants. And, because there is no soil, there are no weeds and, thus, herbicides are not needed.

Controlled Atmosphere + Integrated Pest Management = Greatly Reduced Need for Pesticides
Keeping insects out of the greenhouse is our first priority. The plants are scouted weekly, with traps used to monitor insect population. Growers have adopted Integrated Pest Management practices and the use of eco-friendly biological controls. Using predator insects, such as wasps and lacewings, these “good bugs” control destructive insects and keeps them from growing out of control and damaging plants. Banker plants, which are plants that host predictor insects, are maintained to enable a grower to establish a good bug population in the greenhouse. Some Certified Greenhouse Farmers growers haven’t sprayed a pesticide in at least three years.

Recycling
The recycling opportunities in a Certified Greenhouse are numerous. Our members recycle much more than just water. The coco fiber that plants are grown in is recycled. Leaves and old vines are used as fuel for cogeneration plants. One grower sends 10 tons of leaves each month to a local farmer to mix with soil and use as topsoil. Leaves from greenhouse plants are also used by organic farmers for composting. Cardboard is broken down and compacted before being recycled. Unmarketable produce is used as animal feed.