We grow our produce in a greenhouse, so we can customize the environment to maximize growth year round! This gives our growing process several environmental advantages. We can take advantage of the sun throughout the winter. It may be freezing outside, but the plants are cozy inside. We nourish our plants with nutrient-rich water that we continually recycle and sterilize. This uses substantially less water than field growing. Finally, we use coco coir as a growing medium. No dirt! This means that our plants don’t have contact with soil-borne diseases, and pests or animal waste fertilizers.
Our products are free of any harmful chemical pesticides, insecticides or herbicides. We employ integrated pest management solutions, including biological controls such as using beneficial insects to prey on harmful pests. Outdoors plants are vulnerable to bugs and disease but in a greenhouse this is much easier to control. Bumble bees keep our plants healthy by pollinating them and beneficial predator insects, like Wasps, help combat the bad bugs. If we do spray anything on the plants, it is certified organic (OMRI). You can feel safe eating our tomatoes.
HCF is committed to producing tomatoes that meet the highest standards of food quality and safety. We are in the process of approval for GAP certification. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) modelled after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Good Manufacturing Practices address important food safety issues such as, water and nutrient use, pest control, cooler operations, and harvesting practices,(including worker hygiene), packaging and storage, and transportation.
The earliest reference to tomatoes being grown in North America is from 1710, when herbalist William Salmon reported seeing them in what is today South Carolina.”
Holy City Farms began in 2010 as Backyard Gardening. Our family sold various heirloom tomato plants each year to co-workers. After the first year, we were hooked and wanted to find a way to do this year round. A small greenhouse was built and we began servicing our first two restaurants shortly thereafter…Slightly North of Broad and Fish. The daydreams began and by early 2013 we had purchased land and began construction. The first plants went into the greenhouse August of that year. It has been quite a ride, but what a great one! The work is insanely difficult in so many ways, but we are doing what we were made for. Thanks to everyone who helped get us where we are today.
We do our best to put them to work. Maybe one day they will take over the business.
CTE - Chief Tomato Engineer
The team. These guys make it all happen.
Let's not forget our volunteers!