The increasing market demands for organic vegetables and fruit has necessitated the need for proven Greenhouse Technology. Alaska Greenhouses PTY (Ltd) has a solid track record for the sturdy construction of tunnels, excellent cooling (heating on demand), water nutrient systems and effective pest controls.

The company has taken the tunnel farming model further to include EurepGap and HACCAP-standard pack houses as well as manager accommodation and training facilities. This concept - the Alaska Greenhouse concept - is designed for the rapid production of market-related varieties of vegetables and berries in what are in effect "high quality organic vegetable factories", where output remains independent of seasonal climate variations.

The company produces turnkey facilities comprising of tunnels, a pack house, manager's accommodation, training rooms, appropriate temperature control, nutrient feeding, irrigation systems and durable materials. These systems are adaptable to the requirements of individual farmers who want to modernize operations, go organic, create additional jobs and introduce new skills to their ventures.

The vegetable "factories" can also serve as on-site training facilities for individual farmers, families, farmer's associations or students at colleges and other agriculture related institutions. Farmers are showing a growing interest in the context of Black Econimic Empowerment (BEE) initiatives to which the Alaska Greenhouses concept lends itself particularly well.

Each freestanding tunnel (6 x 12 x 4m) is designed for quick and cost-effective changes from one crop to another. Alaska Greenhouses can also produce tunnel sizes that are adapted to crops such as berries. The local requirement for a 10-Tunnel operation is one hectare of level ground, 6000 litres per hour of good quality irrigation water, a reliable power supply (grid or diesel) and an ambient humidity not exceeding 70%.

Alaska Greenhouses has generated ever more interest among established as well as aspiring entrepeneurial farmers wanting to introduce or widen a BEE component, mining companies and food chain companies. They can also assist with the securing of financial and skills support through local and foreign NGOs to ensure the farming venture's economic and financial sustainability.