US (WI): Bay Produce harvesting Winter crop

Growing season is still a few weeks away, but a Superior business is farming tomatoes all year long. Inside a 43,000 square foot greenhouse stands a field of green and red where Bay Produce tomatoes are grown. Here, tomatoes are farmed even during the dead of winter. "It's not shipped anywhere, it's made right here, locally produced," explains grower, Hank Vandenbrink. "For our clients, of course, this gives them the opportunity to have a job year round. And that's the sole purpose why we are here, to give our clients a job."

Vandenbrink is talking about the Challenge Center, a place for adults with developmental disabilities. Bay Produce started as an employment and training platform for people with special needs. Since its start 26 years ago, it has grown into a full on farming operation supplying grocery stores in the region with fresh produce.

"Plants are my life," says Vandenbrink. "Working with the clients is just a big benefit on top of it."

Like any other job, clients come to work and earn a paycheck. All the tomatoes are picked by hand, sorted by size, leaving the greenhouse with a sticker on top. Coming to work can be especially enjoyable during the winter when coming to work feels like walking through a tropical jungle.

Outside, temperatures drop well below zero during the winter months. Inside this greenhouse, temperatures can reach into to upper 80's. Because of the "greenhouse effect", if the sun is shining, heaters won't be needed.

"If the sun is out, not much, or at all," says Vandenbrink on the use of heaters. "But, if the sun is not out and it’s cloudy, the heaters will be on all day.”

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