WASHINGTON — Greenhouse producers can tap consumers' latest preference for sustainable products, along with their desire for flavor and high quality, and deliver consistent products to retailers, said Fried DeSchouwer of Greenhouse Produce LLC, one of several speakers at the May 8 International Greenhouse Marketing & Technology Symposium that delved into the latest trends in greenhouse technology and market opportunities.

The symposium, held here and sponsored in part by the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, drew attendees from food retail associations, federal government regulators and embassies, all of who received a crash course on the benefits of greenhouse technology to combat climate change and other issues.

Over the past decade, the $3 billion greenhouse market has grown steadily worldwide and is expected to continue growing during the next three to five years, predicted Martin Ley, president of Nogales, AZ-based Fresh Evolution.

China is among the top greenhouse producers, but greenhouses are used in different climates in Turkey, Spain, the Netherlands, Israel, France, South America and other locales.

The threat of climate change and more unpredictable weather patterns is another reason why companies are turning to greenhouses, said Ricardo Garcia Balderrama of North American Allied.

The technology ranges from high-tech glass enclosures to low-tech plastic and netting, and this variety has fueled the debate over the appropriate definition of greenhouse.

Companies in the greenhouse business are eyeing the sustainability market. Greenhouse products can promote their reliance on low water and low inputs for sustainability-conscious consumers, while at the same time offering retailers a supplier that sells consistent, year-round product, said FPPA President Lance Jungmeyer, who estimated more than three-quarters of his members are involved in greenhouse production.

"With finite resources availably globally, greenhouses help farmers use less water and chemicals, and they are able to produce much more volume in a smaller footprint," Jungmeyer said.

Companies are looking for a premium price for their products, and retailers, or "gatekeepers," must adhere to strict margins, so there are a lot of competing pressures, said DeSchouwer.

Food safety is always a topic at produce meetings, and greenhouses provide a great advantage, with little worry about animal intrusion and unauthorized human access, explained Walter Ram, vice president of food safety for Los Angeles-based Giumarra Cos., another speaker at the Washington meeting.

Another advantage is greenhouse firms do not have to worry about wind drift from neighboring farms, he added.

"The three most common food-safety issues for fresh produce are people, water and animals," Ram said. Still, research is underway to fill some knowledge gaps about protected agriculture, he added.

Ley said that while companies in the U.S. market promote greenhouse-grown, companies in Europe and Asia do not commonly use the term on packaging because it's viewed as just another method of production.

Choosing the right greenhouse technology allows a company to be more efficient, control the elements, and incorporate the right food-safety protocol, said Eric Viramontes, president of Vision y Services.

The first of two symposiums, FPAA scheduled a second session May 12 at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West in Sacramento, CA.