West Coast Tomatoes, LLC, Manatee County
For nearly 40 years Gary Reeder has dedicated his career to growing fresh market tomatoes on the 1,800 acre farm owned by West Coast Tomatoes, LLC in Duette, Florida. Farm #4, where Reeder operates, produces over 60,000,000 pounds of tomatoes annually. However, maximum yields are not the only priority to Reeder. He is also intentional about the conservation of land and its natural resources. Reeder has been implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) since they began. BMPs are practical, cost-effective actions that agricultural producers can take to conserve water and reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste and other pollutants entering our water resources. BMPs are designed to benefit water quality and water conservation while maintaining or even enhancing agricultural production. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, over 12 billion gallons of water is conserved each year through the implementation of BMPs. “Every drop of water we use costs us money. It is in our best interest to only use what the plants truly need in order to not waste two things: water and money.” Reeder utilizes seepage irrigation throughout the entire farm. This permits the water table to reach the roots and activate fertilizers as needed. By pulling regular soil samples, Reeder is able to tell how effective his irrigation system is operating and where he may need to adjust the water levels.
