Fort Wayne, IN — June 20, 2019 — Biodyne USA and Trellis Growing Systems, two privately held ag-tech companies based in Fort Wayne, IN, have announced a new joint venture: Trellis Growing Solutions / IBEX Growing Systems.

“Trellis Growing Solutions will bring together the experience and expertise of our companies to offer our customers turnkey solutions for small- to medium-sized private horticulture,” said Gil Farley, president of Biodyne USA.

Starting with Hops

Trellis Growing Solutions’ flagship product—IBEX Hops Growing System—will be an affordable system marketed to home- and micro-brewing communities across the country. The system combines a versatile, trellis-style structure with soil science to help users more easily grow, train and harvest. IBEX Hops Growing System launches in Fall 2019 and additional information will be available at IBEXgrows.com.

Trellis Growing Solutions’ system is the first of its kind, and the engineering and biotechnology used to develop it make it possible for hobbyists, semi-professionals and small commercial farmers alike to grow their own hops without the expensive infrastructure and acreage previously required to do so. Launching with a focus on hops, Trellis Growing Solutions will grow to serve a deep pipeline of high-value, specialty crop applications.

“The brewers we serve want to control every part of their brewing process,” said Richard Barnes, founder, Trellis Growing Systems. “These are smart, hands-on folks, who covet the opportunity to grow and use their own hops in the beers they brew, share and compete with.”

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Founded in 2012, Biodyne USA is a family-owned and -operated environmental biotechnology company focused on harnessing the power of naturally occurring, beneficial microorganisms for use in a variety of product offerings for agricultural and environmental applications. To learn more about Biodyne USA visit biodyne-usa.com.

Founded in 2007, Trellis Growing Systems has created a line of products specifically designed to increase crop yields and fruit quality of berries and other high-value crops. Trellis Growing Systems has been supported through several Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants through the USDA. To learn more about Trellis Growing Systems visit trellisgrowingsystems.com.

TGS just completed a study funded by USDA-AMS to determine the economic feasibility of establishing an IQF facility in Circleville, Ohio. The facility would process Midwest blackberries and strawberries for sale to food manufacturers, grocers and direct to consumers. A copy of our study can be found here https://drive.google.com/open?id=1w8_sp-g7Fv-WtVPFg1qPF95MQXjZhlfi

With the help of a 2018 USDA- NIFA Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant, TGS is working to bring a new product to market – a low trellis production and harvesting system for hops. This new system is designed to help small and medium size farms more easily grow and harvest hops in midwestern, eastern and southern regions of the U.S.

TGS won a grant from the USDA’s LFPP in 2017 to study the feasibility of establishing an Individual Quick Freeze (IQF) facility in Ohio. The facility would help local berry growers in Indiana and Ohio create value-added frozen fruit products for the regional food network.

Arkansas blackberry growers are in store for a good year.

http://currentinwestfield.com/2016/fruit-farmer-bruce-van-natta-reaps-benefits-from-westfield-blackberry-farm/

Trellis Growing Systems is excited to announce the launch of an online webstore for the sale of trellising and supplies to commercial growers, hobbyists, and homeowners. The webstore will be especially focused for backyard produce growers who are interested in growing blackberries and raspberries in an intensive and more productive way. However, requests for commercial acreage (trellising greater than 1/2 acre) will still be handled on a case-by-case basis, and include an individualized quote for those who contact us directly through the “Contact Us” page. The webstore is located on the far right tab of the Trellis Growing Systems homepage, or can be reached at shop.trellisgrowingsystems.com.

Thanks,

-The TGS Team

Check out this article about the supply and demand for blackberries.

An interesting look at how the supply side affects our choices.

Devos Place Conference Center, Grand Rapids MI Dec. 9-11, 2014