Two Greenhouses, One Family
Oxnard, CA
Oxnard, California is where the Milgro journey begins. Our original location, this nursery sits adjacent to the coastline nestled 30 miles north of Malibu. The Ventura County coast provides some of the best growing conditions in the world, and is renowned for its temperate climate, ideal for growing year-round. The demands from customers for Milgro product outgrew the 750,000 square feet of greenhouses on 40 acres of land there in Oxnard, giving opportunity to expand. Milgro became interested in the Newcastle, UT area after learning of the geothermal resources available.
The Newcastle area afforded an attractive alternative that included a high desert with mostly cloud-free days, good quality water and a source of geothermal heat. In July 1993, construction of the first greenhouse range began and was completed the following September in time to plant the first Christmas poinsettia crop. Milgro Newcastle now has over 1 million square feet of greenhouse space occupying only a portion of the 450 acres owned, enabling Milgro to expand product lines and extend growing seasons for future growth.
Inside the Greenhouse
Oxnard, CA
Newcastle, UT
Our facility in Newcastle, UT is one of the most successful applications of geothermal energy for space heating in the United States. Newcastle is located along the southeast edge of the Escalante Valley, a desert in southwestern Utah where, at an elevation of roughly 5,300 ft, greenhouse heating requirements are substantial. The relatively harsh conditions outside, combined with the presence of the geothermal system, allows Milgro to create almost any growing environment inside. Overall cool temperatures, high sunlight, and geothermal energy allow us to heat the greenhouse environment cost-effectively rather than using high-cost air conditioning to cool.
Although the location is in a semi-arid desert, within the confines of the greenhouses, Milgro can easily create humidity, whereas in a humid environment, it is virtually impossible to remove. Abundant sunlight in the high desert allows more cost-effective control of crop lighting. It is much easier and less expensive to block light than to create it. The dry, sunny climate, combined with environmentally friendly geothermal heat, provide an excellent indoor environment for superior plant production and helps eliminate the use of fossil fuels, conserves water, and protects air quality. We pride ourselves in being able to contribute to our earth as a green operation by means of location and geothermal use of energy.
Inside the Greenhouse
Newcastle, UT
