HOW THEY GROW TOMATOES
 Barham Farms prides itself on producing the best
tasting, most flavorful gourmet tomatoes possible. Chefs love using them in their
special recipes. Local customers and
grocery chains love them and have been loyal customers for years.
We have found that whenever a customer drives up to the farm and tries one of these incredible
tomatoes, they become a return customer. Barhams takes great care to
produce only the "best" natural tomatoes.
Barhams has two large greenhouses and a packing house for cooling and
packing, washing, and hand sorting all produce. This ensures that you get the only the highest quality product. Everything is done
on site, at the farm, to prevent any bacteria or disease contamination.
The tomatoes are grown in buckets called "bato buckets". They are grown
hydroponically in perlite.  The tomatoes are irrigated with a
"drip irrigation" system that is a closed system using recycled
nutrients and fertilizer from the swine lagoons.
The water is pumped into the greenhouses from the second stage lagoon
after going through a biofilter where the amonia is converted into
usable nitrates. Then the water is sent through a UV light sterilizer
where any remaining pathogens are removed. Then the water goes through
a mixing tank which is controlled by a computer system that provides
the tomatoes with the exact nutrient ratio that they need. Here,
sensors are read, that tell the computer what to send out to the plants
along with a feed formula that is desired at that time.
 Each week, Julie Barham goes out into her greenhouses and collects plant
tissue samples and water feeding samples. Then the plant tissues and
nutrient water samples are sent out to the NCDA&CS or the
North Carolina Agronomic Division where they test them and report any
reccomendations necessary or any nutrient deficiencies. Once a week,
the results arrive in the mail . Julie reviews them and with the
reccomendations from the agronomic division, and daily observation of
the plants, she decides what to tell the computer to feed her plants.
This is only one, of the many, consistent activities to ensure
excellent vegetable production.
 The tomatoes and vegetables are grown safely and naturally.
There are no harsh chemicals or pesticides applied to the plants.
The tomatoes are pollinated naturally with bumblebees from Biobest.
Barhams also uses other benficial insects to aid in insect prevention which
consists of "good bugs to kill the bad bugs". So, not only does
Barhams have to be careful as to what kind of chemicals are applied to
the crops for public safety purposes, they also must ensure that they don't injure the bees
or other insects. By following these procedures, Barhams ensures all of their tomatoes and vegetable
crops are safe and free of harmful chemicals.
 After continuous fertilizer feedings, the plants begin to grow rapidly.
After about 3 months, the tomatoes begin to ripen. They are allowed to
ripen to maturity naturally without the use of gases or any artificial
methods. This helps to ensure that the tomatoes are at optimum flavor
and sweetness.
The tomatoes must be hand-picked every day to provide the freshest and best produce
possible. Vegetables are picked and put in picking trays where
they are transported into the packing area. Here, they are washed in a 2
stage chlorine bath. The vegetables are washed in one bath with a small
amount of chlorine and then transferred into amother bath with only
fresh water to remove any chlorine. Then they are put on drying tables where they
are allowed to air dry.
The tomatoes are then sorted where only the best are packed for
customers to enjoy. Julie doesn't allow any tomatoes
that aren't of the highest qualtiy go out for shipment. Julie sells only
"THE BEST".
Learn More About How Barham Farms Uses Natural Methods To Keep Our Crops Pest and Disease Free:
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