While tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers continue to dominate the commercial hydroponic greenhouse industry, there is a new sun rising that promises to make a strong statement. Hydroponic greenhouses are popping up all over, and they are producing a wide variety of items, such as kale, lettuces, herbs and strawberries.

The expansion and growth in hydroponics today is largely due to new technologies and consultation from leading experts in the field.

Whole Foods Founder and Chief Executive Officer John Mackey with Pierre Sleiman Jr. .One such expert is AmHydro American Hydroponics, headquartered in Arcata, CA. The company offers a wide range of products and even complete commercial systems. It also offers a diverse line of educational materials and consultation services to lend firms from small start-ups to major commercial growers an edge in producing high-quality fresh greenhouse produce.

Michael Christian, who refers to himself as president and “chief plumber” of American Hydroponics, said the firm’s 16,000-square-foot manufacturing facility looks out over green pasture and foothills of tall redwoods in Humboldt County, CA, “where the air is clean, the water pure and earthquakes are plentiful.”

“We incorporated as Sun Circle Inc. in 1984 as a hydroponic system manufacturer,” Christian added. “It was clear to us that hydroponic gardening had so many benefits for people in cities, water conservation, diversity of crop cultivation and ease of maintenance, that we decided to manufacture hydroponic systems.”

The company ventured into commercial hydroponics in 1995, specifically Nutrient Film Technique, or NFT, technology.

“We traveled to Australia and New Zealand, home of the hydro recirculation experts,” said Christian. “When we returned we set up the first outdoor NFT lettuce operation in the U.S., and have been growing in NFT since. We now provide large commercial NFT systems throughout the U.S. and in Honduras, Mexico, Philippines and Israel. And we service schools, colleges and research facilities. These systems are growing lettuce, herbs and vine crops indoors and out.”

He also said that the company currently has a higher rate of successful growers using its commercial hydroponic systems than any other system manufacturer.

Clients are strong believers, and the greenhouse items they’re producing are exciting.

Go Green Agriculture, in Encinitas, CA, is one example. It was founded by Pierre Sleiman Jr. in his college dorm room several years ago. During one of his computer science degree courses at University of California-Riverside, he was inspired by the concept of decentralization. Taking out his first credit card for $2,000, he began constructing a growing system and writing a business plan.

Upon graduation, Pierre Jr. asked his father, Pierre Sr., to become his partner. Today Go Green also employs his mom, dad and sister.

The firm produces an organic line that includes living green butter lettuce, potted and packed basil, living watercress and Red Salanova lettuce, all under the “Happy Living” brand.

In the early process of building its foundation, Go Green Agriculture faced just about every obstacle imaginable.

“American Hydroponics has a team of very knowledgeable experts who are courteous and understanding that such projects are substantial investments,” said Sleiman. “AmHydro’s commitment and encouragement helped us push through the learning curve and we now believe that we produce a world-class product and have mastered controlled environment growing.”

On July 29, 2014, Sleiman was among the 15 local Champions of Change honored at the White House and U.S. Department of Agriculture. The honor goes to leaders across the country who are doing extraordinary things to build the bench for the next generation of farming and ranching. 

The Go Green farm has been visited by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, andCalifornia Secrtary of Agriculture, Karen Ross.