Welcome to Clear Choice Greenhouses!

Our pictures here show you a glimpse of how we grow our organic strawberries in our greenhouse - suspended in the air – in an environment that incorporates several conservation, sanitation, and “eco-friendly” features.

We use “beneficial insects” (the good bugs we release eat the bad bugs) to combat our insect problems in the greenhouse. “Trap” plants are also used for insect control.

Bumblebees, which live in hives in the greenhouse, pollinate the strawberries. Each flower needs to be visited by a bumblebee from 5-10 times to produce a uniform strawberry. Healthy and active bees are vital for uniform shape and quality production.

With a covered growing environment (roof and floor), there is no need for herbicides. Rain does not affect the fruit surface or leach out fertilizer. There is no overhead watering during freezes to soften the fruit or water down its taste. Our strawberries can be picked at their full flavor peak without having to “work around” adverse weather.

The greenhouse and its growing system are designed to be energy efficient in its use of heating fuels. Warmth is applied to the root zone only when it is needed to optimize plant growth and fruiting response. This saves fuel by not heating all the air in the greenhouse. Cool air also helps the berries keep their sweet taste!

Water conservation is a critical part of farming these days – particularly in central Florida. Clear Choice uses the newest computer technology to conserve this valuable resource. Water and fertilization programs are closely monitored by both growers and computer sensors that give us pertinent plant environment information. Watering adjustments can be made daily to compensate for transpiration variations (due to sunny or cloudy days), plant growth rate, amount of fruit on the plants and ambient temperatures. Natural fertilizers are injected with the water when needed directly to each plant. This also helps prevent waste of valuable nutrients. All of these factors dictate how much water a plant can take up and actually use at one time. The goal at Clear Choice is to give the plants just what they need - when they need it - to eliminate over watering and runoff.

For more information on “Organic”, go to the USDA National Organic Program website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm

So - Who is Clear Choice Greenhouses, LLC?

Gary Wishnatzki and Allen Williford are partners in a new approach to Florida strawberries – greenhouse-grown and organic. They have known each other for years through the strawberry industry. Between the two, they have generations of strawberry and farming experience in Florida and North Carolina. Allen’s expertise is in strawberry production in the field, greenhouse, and plant stock nursery. Gary specializes in sales and marketing with connections worldwide. Both had visions of a better strawberry for consumers. Together, they are bringing you that product – Clear Choice Greenhouse-Grown Organic Strawberries!