PlantTape Hires Key Personnel To Support Business Growth
October 17, 2018 | 3 min to read
SALINAS, Ca. – PlantTape®, an automated transplanting system, has announced the addition of key personnel to support a growing customer base.
Hunter Smith, Ph.D. joins the innovative company as Director of Agronomy. Smith received his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in 2009. He attended graduate school at the University of Florida, and completed his doctorate program in agronomy there in 2016. Prior to his current role at PlantTape, Smith performed field research, developed pesticide programs, and optimized growing practices for Generation Farms in southeast Georgia.
“As PlantTape continues to expand throughout North America and Europe with a variety of crops, we continue to learn and research best practices for each commodity to support our growing customer base,” stated Brian Antle, President of PlantTape. “It is important for us to understand the different soil types and climates that each of our customers have. Hunter’s knowledge and expertise give us the ability to place a dedicated focus on areas of improvement and help us to better understand each growers needs to further enhance the benefits of the PlantTape system.”
Taking on the position of Equipment Sales & Service Manager of PlantTape is Matt Beck. Prior to joining PlantTape, Beck worked for NH3, as well as Kleen Globe where he managed their equipment maintenance, purchased new and used machinery and managed their equipment fleets.
“We are excited to welcome Matt to our team with his years of experience in fleet and equipment management,” stated Antle. “With Matt’s knowledge, expertise, and leadership of our sales and service department, we are able to provide exceptional customer service and address customer specific issues. As more growers adopt the PlantTape technology, it is important to us that we provide the same level of support to the growers that were some of our first customers.”
The PlantTape team invites growers to learn more about their revolutionary transplanting system at PMA’s Fresh Summit in Orlando, Florida, at booth #1163. The company will also be exhibiting at the Fruit Attraction Show in Madrid, Spain, in Hall 7, Stand 7E06.
About PlantTape USA: Acquired by Tanimura & Antle in 2014, PlantTape is an automated transplanting system that is ideal for agricultural producers aiming for increased efficiency and productivity. The system is more efficient than the conventional transplanting method and offers a fully integrated system from sowing the tape, to germination and nursery care, to transplanting in the field. PlantTape is commercially used to plant lettuces, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, onions, tomatoes, cabbage and other crops are currently on trial.
About Tanimura & Antle: Founded in 1982, Tanimura & Antle is an industry leading, third generation grower-shipper with a passionate commitment to growing premium quality produce. When they joined forces, the Tanimura family and the Antle family brought together more than 50 years of experience, knowledge and love of the land to establish a produce company unrivaled in the quality of its products, innovation and dedication to growers, customers, consumers and employees. Today, as one of the largest independent lettuce growers in the United States, Tanimura & Antle farms more than 36,000 acres of rich, fertile farmland and ships a full line of premium fresh produce products throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
Source: Tanimura & Antle