US (IA): Public invited to Tenco hydroponic greenhouse dedication
The four-bay greenhouse has the capacity to raise 1,440 tomato plants in 2 bays, and 9,306 plant positions in the remaining 2 lettuce bays, with additional space for 6,400 nursery positions. The Tenco Hydroponic Greenhouse in Wapello County will provide a minimum of 80 paid vocational training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities (rotating in groups of 10 throughout the year) and 1.5 training/supervisory positions at Tenco. Employment opportunities include picking, sorting, packaging, and marketing vegetables. In addition, this operation will generate earned income for Tenco, which enhances their ability to serve clients.
All vegetables in hydroponic greenhouses are grown without the use of soil. They are fed purified water with nutrients. Each tomato plant can produce up to 60 lbs of product annually. Tomatoes are picked by the clients of TENCO and packaged for sale locally and regionally in a variety of retail situations. Hydroponic tomatoes have great flavor as they are only picked after they’ve reached their final stage of ripening, providing for higher sugar content and more intense flavor.
Adjacent to the greenhouse is a Multipurpose Building. This 64’ x 40’ building provides a commons area for grading, washing, packaging, and loading produce for delivery, room to house a cooler, a wide hallway that allows for lockers for workers, a conference room for presentations to groups, and restrooms. Two 8’ wide corridors provide the only access to the greenhouse. These corridors allow for cleaning of shoes and apparel for workers and guests to assist in keeping the greenhouse sterile.
Among the major donors Tenco Board President Leisa Walker will recognize include Sheryl North and her late husband David, the Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation, the Wapello County Foundation, the South Central Behavioral Health Region, the John Deere Foundation, the Tenco Foundation, USDA Rural Development, Norris Asphalt Company, LLC, and Wendler Construction, as well as benefactors Maurice and Helen Sinclair, Chad and Christina VanNess, Robert Perkins, and her own family, all of whom made major gifts to this facility.
For more information:
www.tenco.org