Panel of Experts – Powered by Produce Grower
We have gathered experts from different levels of the Industry to answer questions on the evolving needs of growing mixes and the complexity of different production systems. The CEA market is rapidly growing and evolving at an extraordinary pace. Suppliers, including soilless growing media manufacturers are actively adapting products to ensure the quality and safety of produce, while improving production efficiency. Whether relating to growing systems, product characteristics, sustainability, food safety, or other factors, manufacturers are too evolving to meet the advancement of CEA operations. As regulations and standards are established, the evolution of growing media will continue to play a critical role in this thriving market.
Our Experts
Brian Jackson
Professor, North Carolina State University
Brian is a Professor of Horticulture and Director of the Horticultural Substrates Laboratory at NC State University. Brian has studied and researched soilless substrates for horticultural crop production systems since 2003 with an emphasis on the engineering and use of wood and other alternative substrate materials. Brian is heavily involved in national and global substrate initiatives, advocacy groups, substrate manufacturer consultations, and multi-disciplinary scientific collaborations in soilless culture systems.
John Mcmahon
Co-founder and COO, Better Future Farms
John McMahon is co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Better Future Farms (BFF), a Virginia controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) company. A hands-on grower for the last decade with a deep passion for both business and farming, John is also founder and CEO of Schuyler Greens Company, a high-tech greenhouse he literally built from the ground up and grew into a facility known for premium-quality, year-round lettuce and early adoption of cutting-edge ag technology. He has donned numerous hats throughout a distinguished professional career and has endowed him with a remarkable degree of flexibility, enabling adept adaptation to rapidly changing business needs and requirements.
John Santoro
Sales Director – Canada and North-Eastern US
John’s has acquired over 20 years of horticulture experience in both sectors of the industry—as a production manager and grower, and in sales. Being able to understand the operations and challenges on both sides makes him a valuable contributor for his customers and Berger. John studied ornamental horticulture, with a specialty in floriculture, at Delaware Valley University in Pennsylvania. He started his career at Blue Moon Acres from 2001 to 2005, supervising a team on a six-acre organic herb greenhouse and farm. He then went on to work as a Production Manager for Kurt Weiss Greenhouses in Connecticut, which grew annual and perennial products in an 11-acre facility. From 2007 to 2014, John was nominated Head Grower for Garden State Growers and then Sell Farms in New Jersey. He then switched hats and went to work in technical sales at Berger. He quickly moved up the ranks to Divisional Sales Manager and then in the position he is today.
