Westerlay Orchids Expands California Production

westerlay orchids

Westerlay Orchids, which is based in Carpinteria, CA, is expanding. The company recently added 39 acres in Oxnard, CA, to its portfolio of orchid growing facilities. Undeveloped and currently in use as open field agriculture, the new property is located 1.5 acres from the ocean, which provides the necessary cool temperatures for proper orchid cultivation.

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“Long-term sustainability is our driving motivation,” says Toine Overgaag, owner of Westerlay. “Orchids need a specific environment to thrive, and building a new, state-of-the-art facility in Oxnard will help us continue raising the bar in the orchid market.”

Overgaag’s aim is for carbon-neutral production, and he is confident of achieving 100% use of recycled water. The property has access to Oxnard’s GREAT water program (Groundwater Recovery Enhancement and Treatment), which recovers commercial and domestic wastewater for irrigation purposes, as well as groundwater injection. Additionally, Overgaag plans to integrate solar panels into the greenhouses.

Overgaag says Westerlay’s Oxnard expansion is a win-win for the environment as well as for its employees, many of whom live in or near Oxnard and will have shortened commute times.

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“The project’s build-out timeline is three years. It’s an exciting new chapter in Westerlay’s growth,” Overgaag says. “And, yes, we are keeping our Carpinteria location.”

Westerlay’s 2019 production forecast is set for 3 million orchids to be distributed throughout the Western U.S. and beyond.

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