Section 6: Greenhouse Operation Site Selection
The first step in establishing a new greenhouse operation is that of site selection. The following are some important considerations when selecting a site to build a greenhouse operation:
Markets
Which crops are to be grown and how they will be marketed should be considered. Is the operation to be a wholesale or a retail operation? Retail operations depend on exposure to customers and can benefit by proximity to population centers and by being located in high traffic areas. These same factors may be detrimental to wholesale operations.
Topography
The cost of grading and land preparation must be considered. Natural windbreaks such as hillsides and trees may help reduce heating costs but can also block light. Flood plains are usually flat land with good soils. However, in addition to the obvious flooding potential, many municipalities may prohibit building in flood plains or may require the building site to be elevated.
Land-Use Predictions
Urban encroachment can be a problem. Growth and future zoning changes can create conflicts with neighbors and local governments. However, growth and new highways can also create new business for retail operations. Additionally, urban growth around an operation can increase land values. While this can increase the value of the operation (at least the value of the land), it can also result in increased property taxes unless the operation is protected under an agricultural zoning.
Room for Expansion
Urban encroachment can limit expansion possibilities. When selecting a site and purchasing land, the ultimate expected size of the operation should be considered and even land purchased for future growth.
Climate
Climate affects heating and cooling costs as well as light levels. Other factors such as snow loads, wind loads, and hurricanes may need to be considered. Climate can also allow a business to produce a product at a time of the year that other operations in other locations cannot. For example, the annual bedding plant market in the U.S. progresses from south to north throughout spring and early summer.
Labor
Labor can be the greatest cost of doing business. Availability, cost and seasonality of labor all need to be considered. Additionally, worker compensation costs may vary from state to state and can affect the cost of labor.
Accessibility
The business' accessibility to highways and airports for shipping of plant materials and other products should be considered. When retail is involved, consider how easy it will be for customers to reach the operation.
Water
The quantity of water available, quality of water available and its cost must be considered. Environmental aspects related to water quality should also be considered. For example, operations located near rivers or wetlands may be required to take extra precautions to prevent runoff from the operation. States differ whether, and if so how much, water is allotted for agricultural use. In some states, water use is restricted. In other states greenhouse operations may be required to build facilities and implement practices that prevent runoff from the operation. These issues should be thoroughly studied and their potential impacts evaluated before deciding to locate a greenhouse operation in a specific location.
Local or State Regulations
Any new business will need to comply with worker safety laws, environmental regulations and state and local taxes. State and local regulations on things such as worker safety, work compensation, water usage and runoff control may exist. These regulations can significantly impact the cost of doing business.
Flow Patterns
The traffic flow inside of the operation (i.e. equipment, customers, large trucks) and the flow outside of the operation (traffic coming and going) should be considered. The flow of plant materials and people inside of the operation should also be considered. Wholesale operations need to design facilities that allow plant materials to be easily moved through the facility as they mature and are ready for shipping. Production often begins in a potting area. Plants may then be moved to propagation houses or seed germination chambers and then to a greenhouse. Finally, finished plants are moved to a packing and shipping area. The easier the flow, the less time and labor that is required to get the job done. For retail operations, customer movement is important. Customers should be able to move through the operation and have ready access to materials. Aisles should be wide enough for carts. Often flow can be designed to insure that customers are encouraged to move throughout the sales areas to increase impulse purchases.
Orientation
Single-span houses above 40° N latitude should be oriented with the ridge running east-to-west. This allows the sun to pass through the side rather than through the rafters. Single-span houses below 40° N latitude and all ridge-and-furrow (regardless of latitude) greenhouses should be oriented with the ridge running north-to south so that the shadows created by the ridges move over time rather than constantly shading one area.
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