It was never my intention to get technical with my blog. But I have to admit that it is awfully hard to talk about reproducing plants from seedlings without getting into complex systems and processes. Nonetheless, for those interested in propagation at Houweling’s, I’m going to try to limit the technical talk and give you a lesson, with a quick and easy Q & A format. I have also included an interesting 60 second video tour conducted by my nephew Ruben, who is Houweling’s Propagation Manager.… Read more

My choice of heading for this week’s blog isn’t the least bit vindictive. I’m not telling you that justice has been served or that you got what you deserved. My intent is to take you through a brief history of a tomato’s journey from farm to market.

Before the invention of refrigeration, farmers transported crops by horse and wagon to the local market. If the market wasn’t close, canned goods were the only option.… Read more

In this day and age, not enough CEOs are giving thought to making their companies more environmentally friendly. Some, like Richard Branson (the Virgin Earth Challenge – see the YouTube video below) and Larry Page (Google Energy) are leading the way. Mr. Page has invested more than $200 million dollars in wind farms and solar power. If all goes well, Google’s investment in the construction of a solar power plant in California (http://ivanpahsolar.com/) will be the largest solar thermal project in the world, supplying electricity to 140,000 homes.… Read more

I’ve always thought of manifestos as politically-driven calls to action. Worldwide, the “Communist Manifesto” is probably the best known, but I suspect that you, like me, have never read a single word of it. In fact, it was news to me that businesses also have manifestos. I read Tim Cook’s version of The Apple Way soon after Steve Jobs passed away and now I understand why Apple’s employees are so motivated and loyal.… Read more

From time to time, I’m asked about tomato recipes. From the outset, I tell people that I’m not a gourmet cook and the way I judge tomato recipes is pretty simple. I like tomato recipes that are quick and easy to make, and don’t contain cilantro. Of course, there’s no reason why my distaste for cilantro should be your problem. If you like salsa, you probably like cilantro. And one more thing – a tomato recipe is a non-starter if it doesn’t showcase the natural flavor of a fresh tomato.… Read more

I finally finished Walter Isaacson’s 650 page biography of Steve Jobs. There is a lot I liked about the book – most of Jobs’ business principles mirror my own beliefs in how I want to lead my company, especially his entrepreneurial spirit and brilliant vision of the future. Imagine having the confidence to make what people would buy without ever asking them. Like many geniuses in their field, he had a unique personality – a man who could be cruel, belligerent, controlling, aloof, introspective, intense, weird, passionate, driven and stubborn.… Read more

If you read my previous blog , you already know that I’m passionate about tomatoes – I can talk about them all day long and sometimes into the night, much to the chagrin of my patient wife. With almost 40 years of planting, nurturing, picking, grading and consuming greenhouse tomatoes, I ought to be an expert. Some people consider me just that. But the truth is this: I’m learning something new about tomato growing every day.… Read more

I’ve been around tomato greenhouses since I was a kid. That’s why I’m not the least bit bashful about telling people a thing or two about tomatoes. As for blogging . . .  never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be writing stories about tomatoes in cyberspace (do people still call it that?). For me, writing doesn’t come easy. It’s like trying to nail jelly to a tree. So, at the outset, I’m going to be completely honest with you.… Read more

Houweling’s fresh, greenhouse grown products are produced in the world’s most technologically advanced growing environments.   These facilities are constructed of glass covered structures that give our growers complete control of the climate and allow for maximum light transmission while reducing pest and weather pressures.

The climate in our greenhouses is controlled through highly advanced systems which allow our growers to optimize temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 levels within the environment.

Our plants are all grown hydroponically, without the use of soil. … Read more