Letting a partnership bloom
Letting a partnership bloom
Ohio State has a fruitful relationship with one of the continent's largest greenhouses.
By Jacob Carozza
Evili Martins ’24 MS remembers being stunned the first time she set foot inside a Green Circle Growers greenhouse.
“It was amazing,” she said. “I didn’t know they could be that big. I didn’t know that greenhouse production could get that huge.”
Martins, who grew up in Brazil, had done her undergraduate education in Costa Rica, where the greenhouses she worked in covered maybe half an acre. The facilities at Green Circle Growers, located in Oberlin, Ohio, span over 150 acres of indoor growing space — making it one of the largest businesses of its type in North America.
It was not only the size of the operation but its sophistication that stood out to Martins. She knew immediately that this was the right place to spend a year-long internship in the Ohio State exchange program that brought her to the United States. In her time at Green Circle Growers she learned about every aspect of greenhouse production, in a hands-on setting. It was a decision that would shape her future.
“I was very glad about the experience I had. I got out of there knowing for sure that I wanted to pursue a career in the horticulture industry,” she said.
Ohio State President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. and First Lady Lynda Carter visit Green Circle Growers (photo: Corey Wilson).Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. highlighted the longstanding partnership between Ohio State and Green Circle Growers when he visited the business July 22 during his tour of northeast Ohio. The company has hosted many Ohio State interns over the past few decades, some of whom have gone onto work there full-time. Green Circle Growers has also been a research partner for faculty from the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at the Wooster campus and Ohio State University Extension.
“Agriculture has always been a significant focus for Ohio State, and it always will be as we lead innovations like learning to grow crops in space, deploying AI (artificial intelligence) on farms and controlled environments, and helping the agriculture industry manage risk,” Carter said during the visit.
Ohio State students have worked on a wide range of projects, said growing manager Aaron Porter: sensor testing, climate tests, irrigation studies, insect monitoring, soil testing and testing out different pots, trays and cups for plants to grow in.
“Their involvement has not only provided them with invaluable hands-on experience but has also enriched our data collection and analysis processes,” said Porter.
Photo: Corey WilsonMartins rotated through different parts of the operation before getting to choose where to spend the rest of the year. Working with state-of-the-art greenhouse technology, she became an expert on the production of geraniums, petunias, poinsettias and other flowers. As she honed her craft she learned the importance of precision, and making sure that every detail is right, every time. That sometimes meant re-learning the basics — even how to water a plant.
“Everyone is like, ‘I know how to water a plant. Where’s the hose at? Where’s the water can?’” Martins said. “However, watering your plant is a science in the greenhouse, and it is amazing how you can either improve your crop or kill everything just by knowing how to water or not.”
Above all, she appreciated the trust staff put in students and the way that created a team-oriented culture. She was often left responsible for a section of the greenhouse, without supervision, for the entire day. Martins was offered a role with the company after finishing her internship, but ultimately opted for further education and training. Still, her experience at Green Circle Growers led directly to her current job as a greenhouse manager at Bowling Green State University.
“They want you to learn, and they also give you some responsibilities to do,” she said. “I believe that once you feel that you’re given responsibilities, you feel that they trust you, and you want to see that place growing. You want to do your best for that to grow.”
Partners in research
Beyond training students, Green Circle Growers also has been a valuable partner for Ohio State educators. Michelle Jones, the DC Klipinger Floriculture Endowed Chair in CFAES’ Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, has often taken groups of students and visitors there to see the cutting edge of the industry in action.
“They’re ahead of the curve in developing new technologies. They’re very innovative. They have a lot of automation,” Jones said. “They have benches that move, they have robots that move plants. They’re always right at the forefront.”
Employees work in the greenhouse at Green Circle Growers (photo: Corey Wilson).Jones collaborated with Green Circle Growers and the University of Georgia on research that supported their signature “Just Add Ice” orchids. It’s as simple as it sounds — three ice cubes per week to maintain a healthy full-size phalaenopsis orchid.
“It sounds a little crazy, because orchids are a tropical plant, right? . . . We worked with them just to evaluate that and really give them some science to show that it works. It’s kind of like slow-release water. Otherwise, you water the orchids and they’re either too wet or the water runs right through and they don’t get any water. We evaluated the roots and the bloom time, and there were no negative impacts of adding the ice.”
Jones credits Green Circle Growers for much of the recent growth of interest in the flowers — the company’s 33 acres dedicated to orchids make it the largest orchid producer on the continent. But just as its product benefit from Ohio State researchers, the company’s expertise and facilities provide crucial insights to professors and students alike.
“It’s so essential for us to understand what is really happening out there in the industry, to understand what are their big challenges so we make sure what we’re doing is relevant,” Jones said.
