College kids enjoying salad. Cooks adding a touch of zest to their food in the spring. Tourists relishing a hamburger in the summer breeze at the shore. They all have something in common — lettuce grown by Alan and Rachel Eck using hydroponics at Green View Hydroponics.
While it covers only about one-half of an acre, this greenhouse operation is a very productive half-acre. Lettuce is the key crop grown at Green View Hydroponics. According to the Ecks, they have about 42,000 heads of lettuce growing at different stages of production.
"Bibb lettuce is in demand especially in the summer," said Alan. "Restaurants use this type of lettuce for sandwiches. In the winter, we sell more romaine lettuce. Schools and colleges use romaine lettuce in salad bars, for example."
"While bibb and romaine lettuce account for much of our business, we also grow red oakleaf lettuce," he continued. "A small percentage of our business includes arugula, dill, and chive. We also sell some seasonal products, like English cucumber and basil. Having more variety helps us meet customer needs."
Read more at American Farm