Blueberry Check-in with Joe
- Coastal Sun
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
Did you know we grow 5 acres of organic blueberries on the farm?
We spent a few moments with Joseph Tampas, our Plant Health Team Manager, and asked a few questions about the bioponic blueberry garden at the farm. Enjoy!
Interviewer: Could you introduce yourself and tell us where we are?
Joseph Tampas: I am Joseph Tampas. I am the Plant Health Team Manager, and we are currently in Block 22 of the San Joaquins.
Interviewer: What types of blueberries do you grow?
Joseph Tampas: We grow San Joaquin and Snow Chasers. We also have a few other varieties. We have South Moon, Spring High, and Jewel.
Interviewer: How many acres of blueberries do you grow?
Joseph Tampas: We’re pretty small scale. We have about five acres.
Interviewer: What’s the growing style used for the blueberries? Is it similar to the greenhouse?
Joseph Tampas: It definitely has its similarities. We’re doing containerized production. Being that it’s an organic production, we’re not really in a soilless media. Being that it has worm castings in it, it’s got a little bit more of a buffering capacity than what you would find with traditional hydroponics.
We’re in hoops. We’re in pots. It’s more intensive than what you’d find in a field, and we’re able to just alter the environment for plants a little bit to maximize their production.
Interviewer: What’s your favorite part about growing blueberries at the farm?
Joseph Tampas: So I think, as a farmer, one of the most exciting things is either getting feedback from customers or witnessing one of your clients enjoy the fruit of your labor. You get that sense of fulfillment and reward at the end of a long day, or long season, when you can stoke people out on good-tasting crops. To learn more about Coastal Sun’s blueberry production, visit CoastalMoonFarm.com.
