By
Cheri Carlson
- Merced Sun-Star
DOS PALOS - Just feet away from a busy Central Valley
highway, fresh, sweet air - like after a spring rain - and a
serene quiet settle around rows and rows of tiny orchids.
The plants, which range in age from 45 days to nearly 2
years, are tucked away into three greenhouses where the air
and water are filtered and a shade specially made in Israel
keeps out the cold, but lets in the sun.
When the weather turns hot, that silver shade will be
traded for one of a darker color, which will guard the
greenhouse against the hot Valley summer.
About 200,000 orchids grow on the Dos Palos farm located on
West Highway 152, near Turner Road. The plants are brought in
at a couple of weeks old by plane from Korea. Then, they wait
in boxes under quarantine for about a week before arriving in
Merced County.
About 10 percent of the plants are lost from the shock
during the trip and quarantine, said farm Director Jung. But
the other 90 percent are re-potted at the farm and grown to
maturity before being sold.
Owner Tae Bin Jung operated orchid farms in Korea for about
20 years before coming to California, and continues to run the
Korea-based farms where the orchids are first grown.
In Korea, there are many orchid farms and lots of
competition. Jung and his family decided to expand their
business and made the move to California, where they have been
running Dash Dream Plant, Inc. for about five years.
The Bay Area would have provided a more favorable climate
to raise orchids, said Jung, who joined the business earlier
this year. But again, competition exists in that area, as do
high real estate prices.
The about 15-acre farm was purchased in Dos Palos, instead.
Here, there is little competition and the land was less
expensive, he said.
The choice of location did bring some challenges, though.
In winter, it is too cloudy. In the summer, it is too hot.
"And, there is very hard water," said Jung, adding that none
of those conditions are amenable for orchids.
Company Vice President Chet Sumpter, a cotton farmer and
neighbor to the orchid farm, said getting involved in the
flower business is a different kind of venture for him. "But
it's rewarding," he said.
Regarding which is more difficult - growing cotton or
raising orchids - Sumpter said hands down, it has got to be
orchids. "They are much more susceptible to the climate. In
farming, we're at the mercy of nature."
For about five years, the farm has sold orchids to
wholesalers, but a retail shop was opened on the property
eight months ago.
About 99 percent of sales are still to wholesalers from Los
Angeles to San Francisco. But the plan is to expand the
business even further, according to Jung.
The owner has begun the permitting process to develop an
educational center, which would include a research center, a
botanical garden, a market, restaurant and RV parking.
Bamboo trees have been planted where the botanical garden
will be. And, according to Jung, the restaurant will most
likely offer an Asian menu.
The research center on the site will be a place for
botanist Ko, who has a doctorate degree in horticulture, to
work with plants, including developing new species and copying
older ones.
For the tropical orchid varieties, including Cybidium,
Dendrobium and Phalaenopsis which are available at the Orchid
Farm, developing new species can sometimes mean more flowers,
or ones that will bloom longer.
The farm's Oriental orchids, however, are kept pure, said
Ko. Though maybe not as fancy-looking as the tropical orchids,
the rare Oriental orchids have three distinctive features -
foliage, floral and fragrance.
"For American eyes, (they may not) be as beautiful, not as
fancy," said Jung. "In the Eastern culture, it's considered
very delicate, very exquisite."
To keep the plants healthy, air and water are provided
through an automated system in the farm's greenhouses.
The U.S. floral industry is increasingly employing
automated systems for year-round production, particularly for
high-value crops such as orchids, according to the United
States Department of Agriculture.
More automation in greenhouses, including plant exposure to
natural and artificial lighting, can accelerate plant
production and increases sales. Though, as the Orchard farm
owners have learned, it also means large bills from Propane
Company.
Problems with disease and fungus are guarded against,
through careful observation, proper ventilation and some
insecticide.
When the plants are sold, staff members instruct buyers to
water orchids with distilled water and of course provide a lot
of tender loving care.
"And," added Jung, "The orchids love the morning sunlight
and should face to the east.
Orchid Farm, also called Dash Dream Plant, Inc., is open
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sundays
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 11578 W. Highway 152 in Dos Palos.
More information is available at 387-4909 or
http://www.californiaorchid.com/.
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