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In October 1997, EuroAmerican Propagators moved into a beautiful new facility in Bonsall, CA, just 20 miles north of the original houses in Encinitas, CA. The Bonsall property is very favorable to growing because it sits atop a large slope and has very good drainage and air movement. The light levels are great because of the elevation, and there is a cooling effect from the direct ocean breezes that blow east throughout the day.
By summer of 2002, EuroAmerican's facility encompassed 57 acres, with an estimated 38 acres of actual production area and 300 employees.
The 80,000 sq. ft. rooting house is a "Harnois" Oasis Design with 14-foot walls that can be lowered to increase air circulation. The houses use bottom heat, which accelerates the rate at which plants root. The stock houses are insect-screened to help eliminate potentially harmful insects.
We view building the new greenhouses as an opportunity to improve productivity as well. Along these lines, we've designed and installed a custom "sliding bench" system that has benches with plastic strips ffixed to them, so that the metal tables can be moved more easily. The benches also double as shelves when placed in the carts on the way to hardening or packing. So, the trays are not moved individually until they are packed. This system significantly cuts the number of steps required in moving the plants, saving time and effort for the growers.
Another improvement is to the growing, heating and misting systems, which are monitored by a computer. The computerized system increases accuracy and convenience, while acting as a labor-saving device.
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