Efficient heat savings for Veggie Prime's winter growing

JANUARY 2019

Veggie Prime, located in the Agropark in Querétaro, Mexico, began operations in 2013 producing high-quality beefsteak tomatoes for the US and Canadian markets. Engineer Gustavo Ramirez, who leads production, brought extensive experience with greenhouse climate screens from previous crop work.

When Ramirez joined Veggie Prime, the nearly 3-hectare greenhouse was equipped with a double-layer diffuse plastic cover that provided 45 percent shade, along with a HARMONY 3045 light-diffusing screen that offered an additional 30 percent shade.

Ramirez uses the closed HARMONY screen more extensively during the winter as part of his heating strategy. “I use the screen when the exterior temperature drops to between 12°C (54°F) and 10°C (50°F). This allows me to reduce the use of heating,” he explains.

Thanks to the HARMONY 3045 screen, Ramirez is able to respond quickly to the frequent climate changes typical of the region, especially at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, when cloudy days alternate with high light intensity that can stress plants. “The plants are not able to adapt quickly to these abrupt changes,” he says.

For new crops, when plants are still small, Ramirez also uses the screen during the afternoons to reduce plant stress caused by water deficit, helping to avoid issues related to Fitium stress.

Looking ahead, Ramirez plans to replace the double-layer diffuse plastic with a single layer of transparent plastic, which he expects to benefit winter production when there is less light. In this setup, the HARMONY screen will act as a second layer to save energy and provide high-quality diffuse light in summer.

“Using the screen as a second layer will help both energy savings and shading,” he concludes.