MONTEREY, CA - As the sun sets on another day in the fresh produce industry, we continue to inch closer toward the Organic Produce Network’s Organic Produce Summit (OPS) 2021. With organics on the lips of everyone across the supply chain, this event is sure to spur innovation through its many educational sessions. Philip Karp, President of Shenandoah Growers, is one supply-side luminary ready to divulge his insights during the segment dubbed “Growth of CEA—What’s Real and What’s Hype from a Retail and Consumer Perspective.”

“With increasing climate volatility and supply chain disruptions threatening food supply, controlled environment agriculture (CEA) has an important role to play in the organic food supply chain moving forward,” Philip told me. “It’s our view that in order to meet the growing global demand for fresh produce, both indoor and outdoor production will be necessary, and we’re stepping up to meet that challenge.”

The focus of this session, according to Philip, will be on the opportunity for CEA operators to meet the ever-growing demand for fresh, locally grown organic produce that is both affordable and grown sustainably. Having extensive expertise in this arena, the Shenandoah Growers President is just the man to champion this task.

“Attendees should be aware of how great of an opportunity this show is for stakeholders from all across the organics sector, including both producers and buyers, to come together to tackle common obstacles, learn from each other’s experiences, and share insights on trends not only in the organics sector, but the industry more broadly,” Philip said. “There are a lot of exciting things happening in the CEA space, and we’re looking forward to having the chance to tell Shenandoah Growers’ story."

During the session, Philip will share exclusive insights from Shenandoah Growers’ experience, highlighting how the company has achieved cost-effective, scaled indoor production, as well as the environmental benefits its technology models have enabled and the bright future ahead for this sector.

“I hope attendees come away from this session understanding that CEA is no longer just a dream, or a vision for the future. Companies like Shenandoah Growers are making this idea a reality right now, as we’ve achieved reliable scaled production with efficiencies that enable us to sell our organic herbs and greens affordably,” stated Philip on a final note. “Beyond affordability, our growing methods and technologies have allowed us to produce food sustainably, reducing water and land use, while eliminating the need for environmentally intensive fertilizers.”

There is plenty more in store for those who attend Philip’s session, so be sure to reserve a spot on your OPS calendar ahead of the show!

Shenandoah Growers