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FOCUS-APRIL20123ContrarytopopularbeliefJimx1cTheSpinachGuyx1dreallydoeshavealastname.HisfullmonikerisJimSheehanandheandhisfamilyoperateauniquestateofthearthydroponicspinachfarmontheoutskirtsofPortPerry.TheSheehanfamilymovedtothisareain1999fromUxbridgebywayofPickeringwheretheylandedafterleavingQuebecinthe1970s.Theysoldtheirfamilybusi-nessin2008andbegantheprocessofbecomingfarmers.x1cWhyspinachfarmingx1dIaskedasitoccurredtomethatIhadnevermetanyonewhogrewanyamountofspinachletalonethequantitiesthattheSheehanx19snowproduce.ItseemsthatspinachchoseJim.Herecountssay-ingx1cIwantedtofarmandmycriterionwasIwantedsomethingthatwasyearroundsomethingthatcouldbex0offeredx0locallyx0andx0nallyx0ax0productx0thatx0wasx0familyx0oriented.x1dJimliterallyhauntedtheproduceaislesofgrocerystoresnearandfarwatchingaskingquestionsandgenerallyashesaysmakinganuisanceofhimself.Hispersistentvigilanceledhimtonoticethatitwaslettuceandspinachthatmovedthefastestandthatspinachwasconstantlyx0beingx0relled.x0Throughmanydiscussionswithproducemanagershealsolearnedthatfranchisestoreswereabletomakebuyingdecisionsonthelocallevelaveryimportantfactwhenx0consideringx0hex0wantedx0ax0productx0thatx0couldx0llx0ax0localneed.Jimandhisfamilyactuallystartedtheprocessoftheircurrentoperationfouryearsago.Theresearchthathasgoneintotheirspinachoperationhasbeenlengthyandintenseforseveralreasons.ItturnsoutthatspinachisFIELDOFGREENSJIMSHEEHANTheSpinachGuyonex0ofx0thex0mostx0difcultx0plantsx0tox0grow.x0Itx0isx0suscep-tibletoawidespreadrootdiseasecalledpythium.Pythiumisnotharmfultohumansbutitretardsthegrowthofplantsliketomatoesandspinachandcanwipex0outx0wholex0cropsx0ofx0eldx0grownx0spinach.x0Spinachx0isasensitiveplantitdoesnotlikehottemperaturesitdoesnotlikecolditdoesnotlikemanyofthecondi-tionsx0thatx0Motherx0Naturex0throwsx0aroundx0onx0ax0regularx0basis.TheresearchmountedandJimandhisfamilywiththehelpandinputofmanymanylocalfarm-ersconceivedandbuiltwhatstandstodayasmallbutx0statex0ofx0thex0artx0greenhousex0thatx0usesx0x1coatingx0raftx0technologyx1dx0tox0growx0inx0rotationx0fourx0oatingx0poolsx0ofx0spinacheachwithanapproximatefourweekgrowingcycle.Inlaymanx19stermsthisiswhatyouseewhenyouwalkintoJimx19simmaculategreenhousefourlargerectangularx0pondsx0eachx0pondx0isx0ax0eldx0ofx0spinachx0atx0varyinglevelsofmaturity.ThetemperatureisperfectwarmforyouandIbutjustx0perfectx0forx0thex0spinach.x0Thex0lightx0isx0alsox0perfectx0madesobyendlessexperimentation.ThesmellisfreshandgreenandwhenaleafispulledtotasteitisabsolutelysweetunlikeanystoreboughtspinachIhaveevertasted.Jimcommentsx1cWearetheonlypeopleinNorthAmericawhoarecommerciallygrowinghydroponicspinach.Ithasbeenalonginterestingroadtotravelbutx0wex0arex0veryx0proudx0tox0havex0guredx0outx0howx0tox0growtotallydiseasefreespinachusingabsolutelynopesticidesorchemicals.x1dPleaseturntopage4JimSheehan