Easy Pickin’ Strawberry Bench

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #3, Page #20

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The IBEX strawberry bench makes it easier to plant, irrigate and maintain plants, all without stooping.
“It’s off the ground so there are no disease issues. Nutrients can be run through the drip lines getting the optimum performance for each plant,” says Richard Barnes, fruit producer, researcher and inventor of the system. “The berries are high quality. We’re getting $7/lb. and can’t supply enough.”
Through work with the USDA, universities and grants, he developed the system for strawberries on his 10-acre berry farm.
The result is two products, one for homeowners and the other for commercial growers who sell U-pick berries.
The strawberry bench is a 12-ft. long, 44-in. wide stand with a bench top at 35-in. tall made of commercial-grade galvanized tubing. It accommodates up to 48 gallon-size mesh bags to hold the growing media and strawberry crowns. The kits come with drip emitters, stakes, tubes and a pressure regulator/filter ready to screw into a garden hose.
“It’s hydroponic, so it’s soilless using coconut coir, Canadian sphagnum moss, and perlite, so it’s light and holds water well. The bags are fabric, so they drain and keep the soil cooler, and they air prune as the roots grow out. When roots touch the bag, it creates more feeder roots.”
A basic system comes with 24 bags, irrigation and a poly weather guard for $1,849. Additional options include a misting system to protect plants from frost.
“The commercial system is pretty much the same, but 102-ft. long and they stake into the ground. They are unique in that you can put a tunnel on top, but they are less expensive than a high tunnel,” Barnes says.
So far, a couple of producers have purchased 20 benches (or more) for their operations.
“They are very accessible. We have many elderly people and people in wheelchairs who come to our farm to pick,” he notes. It’s also easier for workers to pick for the ready pick market.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, IBEX Growing Systems, 3850 Concept Court, Suite 101, Fort Wayne, Ind. 46808 (ph 800-506-6615; hello@IBEXgrows.com; www.ibexgrows.com).

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Easy Pickin’ Strawberry Bench FARM HOME Miscellaneous The IBEX strawberry bench makes it easier to plant irrigate and maintain plants all without stooping “It’s off the ground so there are no disease issues Nutrients can be run through the drip lines getting the optimum performance for each plant ” says Richard Barnes fruit producer researcher and inventor of the system “The berries are high quality We’re getting $7/lb and can’t supply enough ” Through work with the USDA universities and grants he developed the system for strawberries on his 10-acre berry farm The result is two products one for homeowners and the other for commercial growers who sell U-pick berries The strawberry bench is a 12-ft long 44-in wide stand with a bench top at 35-in tall made of commercial-grade galvanized tubing It accommodates up to 48 gallon-size mesh bags to hold the growing media and strawberry crowns The kits come with drip emitters stakes tubes and a pressure regulator/filter ready to screw into a garden hose “It’s hydroponic so it’s soilless using coconut coir Canadian sphagnum moss and perlite so it’s light and holds water well The bags are fabric so they drain and keep the soil cooler and they air prune as the roots grow out When roots touch the bag it creates more feeder roots ” A basic system comes with 24 bags irrigation and a poly weather guard for $1 849 Additional options include a misting system to protect plants from frost “The commercial system is pretty much the same but 102-ft long and they stake into the ground They are unique in that you can put a tunnel on top but they are less expensive than a high tunnel ” Barnes says So far a couple of producers have purchased 20 benches or more for their operations “They are very accessible We have many elderly people and people in wheelchairs who come to our farm to pick ” he notes It’s also easier for workers to pick for the ready pick market Contact: FARM SHOW Followup IBEX Growing Systems 3850 Concept Court Suite 101 Fort Wayne Ind 46808 ph 800-506-6615; hello@IBEXgrows com; www ibexgrows com

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