Tour of the Shore (A guest blog by Team Member Mirian Alvarenga )

Chesapeake Greenhouse

Sudlersville, Maryland 

             Chesapeake Greenhouse has half an acre of land, where they grow about 10 different types of lettuces, but their main lettuce is the Bibb lettuce also known as Boston lettuce. They use a method of greenhouse growing called Hydroponic, in which they grow the lettuce indoors with fresh water, fresh air and a computer that controls everything from the nutrients that are added to the water, to the air temperature.

            They also grow all of their own seedlings.  After about two weeks the seedlings are placed into channels to grow.  The channels are easy to move, which also allows them to be transported to different bays throughout the greenhouse.  This rotation ensures that there is fresh lettuce available every day. 

            Chesapeake Greenhouse is now growing herbs, such as basil, thyme, cilantro, parsley, chives, mint and sprouts which they are able to sell to local restaurants and farmers markets.

Beautiful greens in the greenhouseFresh herbs are a new edition to Chesapeake Greenhouse

Godfrey’s Farm

Sudlersville, Maryland

            At Godfrey’s Farm they grow about 250 acres of fresh market fruits and vegetables, sold mostly on site to other farm markets and grocery stores including Whole Foods Market. They deliver their fresh produce to our Maryland and D.C. stores beginning in May, with asparagus.  As the seasons progresses they deliver peaches, plums, cherries, berries, and they finish their seasons with green beans and winter squash.

            The farm is also open to visitors to stop by and pick their own strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and peaches.                                                

Squash

First strawberries of the season

Arnold Farms

Chestertown, Maryland 

            Arnold Farms is a major grower of produce for our  Whole Foods Market Mid Atlantic Region stores. They are the largest producer of corn for our stores and are most known for their bi-color corn, which is conventionally grown, using plastic encasement to prevent weeds from growing on the corn to prevent extra labor on removing the weeds from the corn. So by the weeds being trapped under the plastic they act as a fertilizer for the corn.

            They have recently started a new, more earth-friendly method of growing corn, using recycled plastic that biodegrades up to 45 days after they harvest the corn, which saves on costs of taking the plastic to the landfill as well as saving the planet.