About Us
Founders
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Janice BrownOak Tree Hydroponics is a Limited Liability Company owned/operated by Janice and Stephen Brown. Janice grew up in the farming community in Wayne County, Ohio where her parents owned a dairy farm that also provided most of the food needed to sustain a family of eight. A Certified Public Accountant since 1985, Janice’s business experience includes owning a successful accounting practice for over 25 years including chief financial officer of a multimillion-dollar company. Janice’s responsibilities focus on greenhouse production.
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Stephen Brown
Stephen Brown, a native Californian, flew single-engine aircraft before having a driver’s license. A former combat naval officer (Vietnam) who then spent ten years in commercial and international banking, he lectured in graduate-level economics and finance while studying for a PhD before turning to teaching computer-related courses. His administration background includes department chair, and owner/chief executive officer of a post-secondary school operating in two states, and director of education for a small college. Stephen’s Oak Tree responsibilities focus on business development with an emphasis on marketing.
Mission
We will, using state-of-the-art hydroponic research and technology systems, establish a reputation as the producer of the highest quality produce available and provide safe, superior quality, fresh, locally grown produce year round to consumers in the surrounding area.
No Pesticides
No GMO
No Herbicides
Values
We transform superior grade food production technologies, concepts and strategies into viable business realities. We service all clients with respect, honesty, and a commitment to provide the finest produce that exceeds expectations every time. We are responsible for providing superior-grade produce that delivers complete satisfaction every time to all clients. We produce and deliver what clients want every time and on schedule. We perform our work with a passion that reflects merging imagination and technology to help bring nutritious produce to our clients’ tables. We will innovate to sustain:
Year ‘Round Production
Ecologically Conscientious Disease & Insect Control
Up to 90% Less Water Than Traditional Field Crops
Near-Zero Environmental Impact on Air, Water & Soil
Greater Control Over Nutritional Requirements During Production
Our Vision
Oak Tree Hydroponic Farms LLC uses 21st century controlled environment systems and state-of-the-art hydroponics (soilless agriculture) to produce year-round superior-grade lettuce varieties plus kale, chard, tomatoes, English cucumbers, and a host of herbs.
Used for thousands of years worldwide and chronicled by Marco Polo in the 13th century and by Spanish explorers in the 16th, hydroponic systems operate with near zero environmental impact to produce high-quality, hormone-free vegetables without the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. In addition, hydroponics is water-wise, using 90% less water than conventional vegetable gardens, and 97% less than standard agriculture methods for horizontals (lettuce, greens, etc.) and verticals (tomatoes and peppers.)
Because plants thrive and grow in one body of water using a single infrastructure of consistent biomass, there are
- No fertilizers–controlled enrichment systems monitor and provide all nutrients
- No herbicides–there’s no soil for weeds
- No pesticides–hydroponics uses biological pest controls
- No pre-ripe harvests followed by gassing to accommodate consumer-expected colors
- No need to transport product, on average, 1,800 miles “field to table”–think four hours, and
- Substantially reduced sodium
Production is more efficient using hydroponics:
| Produce | Avg. Field Harvest | Hydroponics (days) | Days/Pct. Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lettuce | 72 | 28 | 44/157% |
| Kale | 62 | 47 | 15/32% |
| Collards | 60 | 45 | 15/33% |
| Bok Choi | 47 | 28 | 16/68% |
| Tomatoes | 80 | 45 | 35/78% |
| Belgian Endive | 120 | 72 | 48/67% |
| Basil | 85 | 60 | 25/42% |
