Hall 26 A-01
Mexico: Cravo completes 42 hectare (108 acre) greenhouse project
Cravo has recently completed a 42 hectare (108 acre) installation of their retractable roof greenhouses at Agricola Pony in Culiacan, Mexico.
Agricola Pony has converted 100% of their open field roma tomato production to Cravo Retractable Roof greenhouses. The houses are designed with a retractable white roof covering to provide maximum cooling allowing them to transplant during the hot conditions in September and harvest into June.
Agricola Pony has implemented the “Retractable Roof Production System” which is based on growing crops outside when conditions are optimal, and then automatically closing the roofs to optimize conditions when there is excessive cold, heat, wind and rain outside. This production system has allowed Agricola Pony to leverage their 50 years of experience growing crops in open fields.
The combination of the retractable roof and the drip irrigation system has allowed Agricola Pony to achieve a harvest season from December until the end of June while significantly increasing yields and fruit size while reducing water consumption by approximately 75% per kg compared to their open fields. In addition, the improved plant health has resulted in a virtual elimination of foliar diseases and losses due to virus.
Planning is underway for the next 42 hectare expansion.
Cravo is also at the Fruit Logistica in Hall 26 A-01
For more information, please visit: www.cravo.com
Video of Agricola Pony 2010-2011