Harts Nursery of Jefferson takes a clean production protocol to heart

Photo courtesy of Harts Nursery of Jefferson

Some pundits might say that you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket, but for others, it can be a road to success. An excellent example is Harts Nursery of Jefferson, an Oregon-based family-owned and operated business that has established itself as such a pivotal supplier to Fred Meyer stores in the Pacific Northwest that the Kroger-owned grocery chain is by far the nursery’s main customer.

Consequently, this allows for a very small margin of error, which is why Harts Nursery relies on products from Pace 49 in many steps of its production protocol.

When the continued satisfaction and trust of one customer is so existential to keeping the lights on, a razor-sharp production protocol is a must for several reasons. First, the production and delivery schedules leave no room for error. Deliveries must be made exactly on time, every time. Secondly, once the plants have been delivered to the grocery chain, they are exposed to harsh conditions, often baking in the sun without experienced staff dedicated to their care. This puts extra burden on the supplier, because only extremely healthy plants can withstand such conditions.

Jordan Hart, a third-generation grower in the family-run business, gives Pace 49 products a lot of credit for helping them produce exceptional quality plants. “We use Pace 49 products in nearly every step of the production process, and they have really made a difference,” Hart explains. “By maintaining a clean growing environment, we’re able to produce higher-quality plants and maintain a more predictable production schedule with fewer crop losses.”

Once Harts Nursery started incorporating Pace 49’s products into their IPM protocol, the benefits became apparent. One of the products Harts uses is Pace KleenGrow, a multi-use EPA-registered product that provides safe and effective broad-spectrum control of waterborne pathogens and algae in irrigation water, plant pathogens on greenhouse plants, and diseases, viruses and algae on hard surfaces. Harts uses Pace KleenGrow to disinfect growing areas between crop rotations, to clean walls and floors to prevent algae from forming, and in irrigation lines to eliminate buildup.

“Growing in the Pacific Northwest during winter and early spring for spring sales, we have to deal with low light levels and high humidity,” Hart says. “This increases the disease pressure on our crops and algae on surfaces. Pace 49 products help combat those adverse conditions by creating a clean and healthy growing environment with reduced disease and algae pressure.”

Hart also uses UpTake PRO — a triple-action wetting agent, penetrant and spreader-sticker — in his tank mixes with compatible pesticides to improve the delivery and performance of the partner chemistries. It increases the permeability of biological membranes of plant pests such as insects, mites and diseases, which facilitates penetration, thus increasing the performance of partner pesticides. It also helps hold chemicals onto the leaf surface longer, allowing better penetration of companion product.

As every grower knows, a clear sign of a healthy plant is a healthy root system, and that’s one area where Harts has clearly seen improvements. Roots develop faster and more robustly, with white roots as a clear sign of plant health. This gives the finished product the ability to withstand unforgiving conditions at the point-of-sale locations.

Worker safety is another area that’s close to Jordan Hart’s heart, and Pace 49 products are pivotal to that. First, the elimination of algae development makes greenhouse floors less slippery and safer, and secondly, the zero REI for Pace KleenGrow (when applied to surfaces) and for UpTake PRO (when added to spray tanks) makes it safe for workers to re-enter the greenhouse shortly after application.

Lastly, it’s no secret that this industry operates on slim profit margins, and that’s especially true when selling exclusively to large chain stores. So, having a couple of products with multiple uses is a financial plus. “Pace 49 products have allowed me to save money in multiple ways,” Hart says. “First, by reducing plant losses in production. Secondly, by decreasing material input and labor costs, and last but not least, by reducing shrink on the retail shelf thanks to greater plant quality and health. It’s a great partnership.”