Swift
Greenhouses, Inc.
Phone
641-478-3217 Fax
641-478-3226
GROWER INTERN
TRAINING PROGRAM
PHILOSOPHY: Swift Greenhouses Inc. is a family owned and operated wholesale greenhouse facility. We have been building business relationships using honesty and integrity for the past 50 years. Our goal is to produce the highest quality, most consistent plants on the market by utilizing extremely detailed procedures. You will be constantly challenged as you are taught these highly technical, computerized systems by our educated and extremely motivated grower staff.
ELIGIBILITY: You
must first fill out an Internship Application to begin our internship program
selection process. If selected, there is
a high probability for future full-time employment with our company after graduation.
SIZE: Over 130,000 square feet (three acres) of covered growing space
CROPS: Herbaceous Plants - Our specialty
is perennial plug production, but we also grow herbs, annuals, and vegetables
in plugs as well as pots.
· 50 Plug Perennial, vernalized – vegetative/seed/division (4,000,000 plants)
Season: May-March
· 288 Plug Perennial/Herb Seedlings (8,000,000 plants)
Season: Year round
· Potted Perennials, 4 inch and 6 inch pots (1,000,000 plants)
Season: February-May
· 512 Plug Annual/Vegetable Plugs (4,000,000 plants)
Season: January-May
· Annual/Vegetable Packs and Hanging Baskets (24,000 trays/baskets)
Season:
March-May
LOCATION:
·
60 miles northeast of
·
Seven miles south of
·
45 miles east of
EMPLOYEES: 45 full-time (65 during peak season)
PLANT GROWTH: Learn and utilize the following specific
details of growing
· Environment: Computer controls monitor climate 24 hours a day
o Light intensity (computer controlled light levels)
o Temperatures (fine tune temperature for perfect growth)
o Humidity (lower humidity for increased transpiration and growth)
·
Media: Porous,
non-compacted soil-less mix for active roots
o Soil mixes and their components for various areas of production
o Soil amendments and their purposes (lime, gypsum, micro-nutrients and P)
o pH range varies with time of year, crop and water alkalinity
·
Seed Germination:
The most critical stage
o Moisture requirements (controlled humidity and moisture management)
o Germination rate (learn exact days to germinate using computer database and radical emergence as guidelines)
· Watering practices:
o Moisture scale (learn exact water requirements of each variety)
o Proper watering techniques (apply water properly for Oxygen uptake)
·
Fertilizers:
Feed plants based on the following
o Environment (humidity, light intensity, and temperature affect uptake)
o Rate of Growth (learn rapid versus slow growing varieties)
o Stage of Growth (match the proper nutrients to the plant age)
o Nutritional needs of crops (determine plant deficiencies)
o Quality of growth (learn to tone plant for holding or shipping)
·
Controlling
Growth:
o Environment (utilize computer controls to manipulate temperature “DIF”)
o Fertilizers (exact rate, frequency and timing)
o Plant characteristics/growth habit
o Plant growth retardants (apply B-nine, Sumagic, Bonzi, and Arrest)
o Time of year (short days versus long days)
o Scheduling (time of year, demand, growth rate)
GROWER TECHNICAL TOOLS: Learn to grow using new technology
·
Computers:
Windows XP based technology
o Q-com ‘Gem-link’ environmental control computer system is used to
adjust and monitor every aspect of climate in all ranges
o Database computers in grower’s office store all crop ‘blueprint’
manuals, photos, and information for producing a consistent quality crop. Learn to utilize, update, access, and query information easily using Microsoft
·
Digital
Camera:
o Photos used by growers to document optimum, as well as, less than
optimum crops, stages of growth and experiments
o An efficient method of sending e-mail images of crops to consultants
for instant crop diagnosis
·
Fertilizer
Injectors: Calibrating, mixing and
testing fertilizer solutions.
o Dosatron ratio feeder
o
o Gewa portable injectors (change ppm rate quickly)
·
Pesticide
Application: Focus on preventative rather than curative measures
o Methods and timing of Application for best control
o Choosing the correct product for the insect/disease
o Track pests weekly and learn their life cycles
COMMUNICATION/TRAINING:
· Individual Training: Interact individually with six highly motivated,
experienced growers to solve any potential problems
· Weekly meetings: Weekly grower meetings held to work as a team on space
utilization, production timing, plant growth and environment, pests etc.
·
Consultants:
Learn the latest in plant growth,
development, pest programs, marketing and greenhouse trends, from reputable
world renowned horticulture consultants
o Dr. Dave Koranski and Dr. Chuck Powell
o Monthly visits (grower training, new systems and product updates)
o Semi-monthly e-mail of reports and crop photos
MISCELLANEOUS DEPARTMENTS/AREAS YOU WILL
OBSERVE:
· Seeding: Computerized seeding machine
·
Vegetative
Cuttings/Root Divisions: Utilize exact database/photo specs
· Order Pulling/Preparing: Orders are tagged, picked, and quality checked
·
Shipping:
UPS, FedEx Freight, or Grower Truck
·
Plant ID:
Identify over 1000 genus/species
We feel that Swift Greenhouse Inc. will provide you with the best hands-on, learning experience available. As a Grower Intern, you will learn how very specific systems and processes as well as great attention to the smallest details will produce the highest quality, most consistent crop possible. You will also learn innovative solutions to solve potential greenhouse/plant problems.
Thank you for your interest in Swift Greenhouses, Inc, the home of ‘Thriver Plants’™.
CONTACT:
Swift Greenhouses, Inc.
Personnel C/O Mike Grimes
PHONE: 641-478-3217
www.swiftgreenhouses.com