US: Striving for 100% germination in the growing process

In Wildwood, Florida, The Villages Grown is a Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facility nestled within a retirement community of over 150,000 residents. As part of The Villages, one of the largest master-planned communities in the United States, this operation was established to provide fresh, nutrient-dense produce to support the health and wellness of its active residents. Dedicated to delivering crops "straight to fork" with speed and efficiency, the team at The Villages Grown prioritizes quality, consistency, and sustainability in their growing practices.

Like many large-scale growers, they faced challenges in achieving consistency and quality in their crops. By partnering with Jiffy, they addressed these challenges while also achieving good results, setting a new benchmark for controlled environment agriculture.

© The Villages Grown

Committing to sustainability and quality
Pilar Galvis emphasizes Jiffy's shared vision with The Villages Grown: "When we share similar values with our customers, that's what makes a great match and gets us excited about developing a relationship. We are not only a media or soil supplier; we are partners. We believe in each other."

The team at The Villages Grown recalls early challenges in achieving consistent germination and growth rates. While they recognized the need for improvements, they took a strategic approach—starting with optimizing the substrate.

Transitioning to consistency
Having prior experience with Jiffy products in indoor vertical farming, The Villages Grown team was already familiar with Jiffy's solutions. When inconsistencies persisted with other grow media, they turned to Jiffy's Performa line. Samples were tested internally, with the team closely monitoring results to ensure the transition would lead to measurable improvements.

The impact was transformative. From near-perfect germination rates to consistent growth and improved yields, the Performa line delivered undeniable results. The team quickly advocated for incorporating the product into their production processes, citing noticeable improvements across the board.

© The Villages Grown

Results that speak for themselves
For an operation producing 50,000 heads of lettuce every week, consistency is critical. Before switching to Jiffy, failure rates during germination and field growth ranged from 15% to 25%, leading to unpredictable yields and wasted resources. "With the Performa line, germination rates hit nearly 100% on key crops like lettuces, chives, and herbs," a team member shares. "This allowed us to reduce inputs, save costs, and predictably manage production."

Beyond reducing failure rates, Jiffy's substrates offered The Villages Grown greater control over their operations. "We're no longer compensating for potential losses by overproducing. Instead, we can plan confidently, knowing our crops will perform as expected."

A partner for growth
Jiffy's support extended far beyond providing a reliable product. A team member notes, "They don't just send samples and disappear. They follow up to understand the results, offer tailored solutions, and even innovate with us." This collaboration proved invaluable as The Villages Grown expanded into edible flowers and fruiting crops, where customized formulations were developed to meet specific needs.

Jiffy's responsiveness was also critical during operational challenges. Whether it was addressing a shipment delay or consulting on a new crop, Jiffy's team was always available to provide support. This level of partnership relieved operational stress and allowed The Villages Grown to focus on what they do best—growing high-quality produce.