“A lot of people know that they are going to be selling their wares commercially and go for the bigger items first. You want to make sure that you are ready for commercial/industrial grade systems before you get them.”
Capacity is a massive divide between beginner growers and seasoned veterans of the industry especially if you are talking about commercial vertical farming systems. If you are just starting out then you will not know that there are things that can trip you up in the industry. A lot of people do not know how to cost out their product because there is no reason to do so in the beginning. If you are just dipping your toes into the water to see what kind of market and sales you can generate then it is better to run out of supply then to have too much of it. You may as well figure out what you need to know with small amounts of a product before you start increasing your overhead. If you have a lot of capacity to grow then you should be ready to grow to that capacity. Otherwise, you will have to sell it off or store your rack or shelving unit later. A lot of people know that they are going to be selling their wares commercially and go for the bigger items first. You want to make sure that you are ready for commercial/industrial grade systems before you get them.
If you know that you want a farming system and what type then the next thing to think about is how mobile you need that solution to be when you get it. There are tons of mobile products in the marketplace but you should know that the consumer items you find in places like Costco or Target will only handle around 800 lbs max. You can get industrial grade systems that will handle up to 2500 lbs per level. You need to keep in mind that making those systems mobile will remove some of the capacity that is available because they are mobile. In fact, if you make a rack mobile then you should only go up 2 or 3 levels high for stability’s sake.
“The reason why is that wood can attract mold, pests, and other irritants that will ruin your crops. Metal does not have the same problem.”
Finally, if you are building a commercial vertical farming system then you want to make sure that it is made of metal and not wood. You might be confused about this fact because there are a lot of products out there that are made out of wood. However, it is not the best type of material for anyone who is trying to grow a crop. The reason why is that wood can attract mold, pests, and other irritants that will ruin your crops. Metal does not have the same problem. There are few animals to none that eat metal. Infestations are a massive problem when it comes to growing anything because you have to clear them out before you sell the product. They can also remain on the product which is not going to look good for you when you sell it to someone. Remember that word of mouth is very powerful in business especially when it is negative. No one wants to find bugs in their product. It will look bad on you and your processes if you ever think about selling the business or getting investors to help your business grow.
If you want a commercial vertical farming system that will scale with your business then have a look at the vertical grow rack there. If you want a more mobile version then have a look at this mobile grow rack. If you want a consumer version of those products then have a look at this grow light shelving unit. You can also call us at 503-536-7218 and ask us questions. We would love to help you and your business grow to the levels you want.
