Hoop Houses

Extending Growing Seasons and Increasing Profitability with Hoop Houses

Although traditionally engaged in the processing and end product aspects of the food industry, CIFT also studies enhanced growing practices. One such growing practice is the hoop house. Made of galvanized steel arches covered with polyethylene plastic, hoop houses are typically temporary frames with no permanent foundation. The structures also feature adjustable side vents which provide a cheaper means of temperature control than traditional mechanical means. A hoop house can be constructed in various sizes that are conducive to growing different vegetables.

Hoop houses provide an economical way to increase profits and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, use minimal land area, and use less energy than traditional greenhouse structures.

Hoop houses have been utilized in growing environments in various capacities, but not always to their full economic potential. Initial investigations will summarize hoop house structure, potential applications, equipment required, and operational elements.

The CIFT Hoop House Study

Working with Bittersweet Farms in Whitehouse, Ohio, CIFT began a hoop house demonstration project designed to determine the highest economic potential for annual production. The 12-month feasibility study will demonstrate how growing seasons can be extended from beginning to end.

In particular, this study will:

• Plan the crop cycle

• Maintain records of temperatures and growing conditions

• Monitor multi-crop applications and timing

• Ensure good agricultural practices for food safety considerations

• Develop pricing structures that ensue economic viability

The hoop house environment is monitored for the most appropriate amounts of sunlight, irrigation, temperatures and growing conditions. Crops are selected based on the ability to thrive in the environment during a particular growing season.

Crop cycle optimization is a key study component. Optimal scheduling of one crop's harvest in order to adequately prepare the next crop's growing environment and maximize profits is of particular interest. The results will indicate appropriate times of the year to plant, grow and harvest various vegetables and determine how much earlier a given vegetable will be ready for market compared to more conventionally grown produce.

Early study results indicate that crops can be harvested as much as a month in advance enabling a producer to ask a higher price and generate higher profits. The image above was taken on February 13, 2008 at the Bittersweet Farms hoop house during their first harvest of lettuce, beets and radishes.

For more information on hoop houses, please view the resources in the right-hand column on this page.

CIFT Hoop House Resources...

For more information on hoop houses, please view these resources:

• Extending Seasons and Profitability Through a Growing Environment - The CIFT hoop house feasibility study announcement

• Fresh Local Produce in February - Hoop House First Harvest - Bittersweet Farms in Whitehouse, Ohio harvests its first hoop house crop in February, 2008.

• CIFT Hosts Enhanced Food Production Systems Seminar- A CIFT seminar featuring Adam Montri, Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) discussing hoop house design, construction and operation.

• Extending the Seasons and Profitability through a Growing Environment* - A CIFT guide on hoop house design, construction and operation

• Unheated Hoop Houses for Year-Round Production - The MIFFS hoop house project

The Bittersweet Farms Hoop House Construction Process - Please view a slide show of a typical hoop house construction project.

Hoop Houses - Mr. Adam Montri, Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) discusses Hoop house design, construction and operation. (38 minutes)