It has been sixty years this year since Azrom started its operations in greenhouse building, making it one of the oldest operators from Israel. "Our goal is creating a farm that helps the grower in the long term. The opposite of one size fits all", Fany Baluka with Azrom laughs. "It's a matter of learning all about the data from a project: the crop, the weather, the goals of the company. Starting from this information a project will start."
Fany Baluka with Azrom
Operating in new markets
Azrom operates in many different and also many new markets. In Kenya for example, they've realised various flower projects, in Guatemala vegetable farms and in Vietnam they supply growers with greenhouses to deal with the harsh climates in the north of the country. The biggest market though is China: in the Southern Yunnang province flower projects are realized, whereas the area around Beijing is supplied with projects for vegetables and strawberries.
China is also where the Azrom greenhouse materials are being made. From their factories, projects are supplied directly with the materials, after which installation will take place under the company’s supervision.
FOcus on food and ornamentals
These days, the cannabis market is keeping the Azrom team fairly busy. "The market is growing very fast, but even though it's an interesting and trendy product we’re not lowering our focus on the food or ornamental market", Fany shares. "Food remains of major importance."
One important part of this is the use of F-Clean. The greenhouse cover looks like a standard plastic cover, but acts like a glass cover; it maintains its light transmission for more than 20 years. The Eco Clima greenhouse structure was designed especially for this coverage. "It is applicable in many climates and is a very durable solution", Fany explains. "Being a more affordable and more durable alternative to glass, F-Clean provides a higher light transmission, while it provides more energy saving capabilities than a standard poly cover."
Operating in new markets is exciting, but also brings challenges, says Fany. "We have to adapt to these markets. We've seen in the past that projects were realised which might seem to offer many opportunities and possibilities to growers, but are not suitable for the company. Our goal is to supply growers only with technique that is of use to them."
Currently Azrom is realising a one-hectare cannabis greenhouse in the south of Israel. Read all about this expansion in our publication for the growers of medical cannabis, MMJDaily.com.
