Great Examples of Long-Term Planning from Industry Experts
September 19, 2025 Perhaps the Greenhouse Grower team’s forecasting instincts deserve more credit. When we set our monthly content themes for 2025, we landed on “Cost Management Planning” as the focus for this issue. That decision came well before the 2024 presidential election — and long before any new tariff policies by the Trump administration were announced. Yet the timing could not feel more relevant today.
I don’t mention this to toot our horn, but to emphasize a point: planning for the long-term in times of uncertainty and rapid change is both challenging and essential for any business. That’s why this issue is packed with insights and advice on improving efficiency and reviewing the needs of every part of your company. We begin with Hampshire Farms, Greenhouse Grower’s 2025 Operation of the Year, and the subject of this month’s cover story. As Director of Production Operations Matt Fredrickson explains, “We categorize capital expenditure into two buckets: essential replacements to keep the operation modern, and productivity improvements designed to boost efficiency. We discuss if we need or want something, and we put together detailed spreadsheets on how many turns we can get a year, and it will increase our revenue.”
As you glean more from the rest of this issue, here are a few more thoughts to consider from recent conversations we’ve had with experts from across the industry (you can find more information in articles posted on GreenhouseGrower.com).
Easing Labor Concerns
“We know the H-2A program works. It may be costly, there are a lot of hoops to jump through, and there needs to be reform to the current program,” says Justin Bartlett, co-CEO and Director of Sales and Marketing at Legacy Labor. “But until there’s a clear alternative, we know that with the H-2A program, we can file a job order, it can get certified, workers can get visas, and once they show up, we can all sleep well at night.”
Know the Value of Your Business
“You likely know the value of your home and your retirement accounts. Yet many owners don’t know what their business is worth today,” says Chris Cimaglio, Managing Partner of BEST Human Capital & Advisory Group. “Don’t overlook your biggest asset. A business valuation or business assessment is a crucial first step toward planning your financial future, as your business could be your family’s builder of wealth.”
Future Planning Goes Beyond Financial Performance
“We measure our success over long periods of time, and every decision we make as a company is based not just on the most optimal financial outcome, but how it benefits our team and our products,” says Joche Smith Jr., President of Costa Farms. “We’re charged with making sure our company is here for many more years, and if you want to lift up every stakeholder in the company, you have to take that approach.”
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