Todd Greiner Farms expands asparagus production, packaging plant

Todd Greiner Farms Packing, an asparagus grower, packer and shipper based in Hart, Michigan is expanding its production and packaging plans for the 2018 retail season.

The company recently completed a 20,000-square-foot addition to its packinghouse, according to a news release. The expansion, which is the company’s second in the last 12 months, includes two new controlled-atmosphere cold storage rooms and two new shipping and receiving docks.

“We expanded the packinghouse so we could be more responsive to our retail customer’s preferences for a value-added product, to increase production, and to modernize our expanding operations,” said Todd Greiner, CEO/President of Todd Greiner Farms.

An important addition to the expansion is a new “flow-wrap style” bagging line that will initially package fresh asparagus into new 16oz bags. The value-added microwave bags were introduced last season to meet the growing consumer trend for quick and easy meal solutions.

After a successful 2017 test, a few modifications were made to increase the package size from a 12-ounce to 16-ounce bag, and make facility changes to increase efficiencies. It is estimated that the new machine will be able to package 50-60 bags per minute compared to the previous hand-packing system of 8-10 bags per minute. This is a critical time, labor and cost savings as the company expects to handle 20-25 percent more asparagus this year to support growing demand.

“We were basically at capacity last year. With existing customers asking us to do more, and new business on the horizon, we simply would not be able to keep pace without this much-needed expansion,” Greiner said.

Now that all packing facilities are under one roof – previously the company operated two packing sheds in different locations – operations will be streamlined with a more efficient and simple process for tasks including shipping, inventory and food safety certifications.  Greiner said that the expansion will also allow the company to increase production of other commodities including zucchini, summer squash and sweet corn.

The Michigan asparagus season typically runs from early May to late June with promotable volumes expected for Memorial Day so it is time to set adds now. In addition to its locally grown, domestic pedigree, Michigan asparagus is also known for being “hand snapped” versus ground cut. The end result of this harvesting technique is an all-green, all-edible spear with more shelf appeal and more total yield per spear.

Established 1994, Todd Greiner Farms has earned a Primus Labs – Superior rating for food safety. In addition to asparagus, the operation grows, packs and ships cherries, zucchini, sweet corn, peaches, hard squash, pumpkins, apples and evergreens.

Top photo: Todd Grenier holds a tote full of asparagus.