To kick off the Master Tomato Grower Series, I sat down with Gabriel Ferraro, Head Grower at Sunterra Greenhouse in Alberta. Gabe has one of the most well-rounded resumes in the industry, from cut flowers in Colombia to cannabis in Canada and now leads one of the region’s top tomato operations.

We got into the real challenges he's facing: unpredictable weather, labor shortages, and a tough pricing landscape. Gabe shares why he’s not convinced automation is the answer, and how hands-on growing, sharp team communication, and consistent walkthroughs are still the keys to success. This conversation is about more than tomatoes, it’s about leadership, adaptation, and staying grounded in a fast-changing world.

In this special episode of CropTalk, guest host Adam Greenberg sits down with Pieter Slaman, Head Grower at Little Leaf Farms, for a raw and insightful conversation recorded live at their Massachusetts facility. Pieter shares the remarkable story behind Little Leaf’s rise from a bold idea to North America’s largest lettuce greenhouse operation.

With a deep focus on plant-centric growing, Pieter explains the operational philosophies and cultural values that set Little Leaf apart in a competitive and often volatile CEA landscape. From the importance of trusting your growers to the pitfalls of finance-first greenhouse decision-making, this episode offers a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and technical execution.

In the series finale of the CropTalk Finance & Investment Series, I bring together our three previous guests: Anton Bellot, Adam Bergman, and Curt Meltzer for an honest and unfiltered roundtable discussion.

We dive deep into the hard lessons learned from nearly $8 billion invested into Controlled Environment Agriculture with limited success. Together, we unpack where the disconnects occurred, why so many operations & investors failed, and what it will realistically take for CEA to move forward.

Key topics include the critical need for shifting from venture capital to infrastructure finance, the pitfalls of unrealistic business models, the essential role of experienced operators, and the evolving importance of profitability, not just growth.

Anton, Adam, and Curt also share their visions for the future of CEA: what new business models must look like, what signals investors are actually looking for, and the role that government policy, AI, and true operational excellence will play in the next chapter.

In this episode of CropTalk, Kyle Barnett sits down with Curt Meltzer, a former Attorney turned Managing Partner & CEO of Kentucky Fresh Harvest, to explore the high-stakes world of finance, risk, and reality in Controlled Environment Agriculture.

Curt shares his unique perspective as both an early-stage investor and an operator who was thrust into the day-to-day management of a large-scale tomato greenhouse after project delays, cost overruns, and pandemic-era complications. Drawing from his legal background and experience leading a struggling operation, Curt offers brutally honest insights into what can go wrong and what CEA entrepreneurs must get right.

The two unpack the dangers of poor planning, unrealistic budgets, and siloed decision-making, while also discussing how new entrants can avoid repeating past mistakes. From investor expectations and operational readiness to crop selection and market validation, Curt lays out a blueprint for building smarter, more resilient CEA ventures in a capital-constrained environment.

In this episode of CropTalk, Kyle Barnett sits down with Adam Bergman, Managing Director of EcoTech Capital and a seasoned agtech investment expert, for a candid conversation about the hard truths and future opportunities in Controlled Environment Agriculture.

Adam unpacks the aftermath of the $8 billion investment surge that flooded into indoor farming from 2017 to 2023, analyzing why many startups failed to deliver on bold promises and what the industry needs to do differently moving forward. From the overfunding of vertical farms to the scalability challenges of biology-based systems, Adam shares why CEA must be treated as industrial agriculture—not tech—and how that mindset shift is key to future viability.

The two dive into the need for standardization, the role of project finance, the importance of experienced growers, and why profit—not hype—will determine the next chapter of CEA.

In this episode of CropTalk, Kyle Barnett sits down with Anton Bellot, Director of Agribusiness and Agri-Food at ATB Financial, to break down the realities of CEA investment. With nearly a decade in agricultural finance, Anton shares insights on the shifting investment climate, lessons from the 2021 funding surge, and why some startups struggled while others thrived.

They discuss the key financial challenges facing CEA today, the differences between greenhouses and vertical farms from a lender’s perspective, and what investors should realistically expect in terms of returns. Anton also shares his outlook on the future of CEA financing and what it will take for the industry to secure sustainable growth in an increasingly cautious financial market.

In this special roundtable episode of CropTalk, I’m joined by industry experts Marco de Bruin (de Bruin Consulting), Chris Higgins (Hort Americas), and Adam Greenberg (IUNU) to break down the current state of Controlled Environment Agriculture. As the industry reaches a pivotal moment, we dive deep into the complexities of operational mastery versus technology, the shifting landscape of investments, and the pressing challenges of workforce development.

We cover everything from navigating tariff impacts and energy costs to the future of vertical farming. Is modular expansion the key to sustainable growth? Can the U.S. develop CEA hubs to compete on a global scale? And what does it really take to build a profitable CEA operation today?

In this episode of CropTalk, Kyle Barnett sits down with Marco de Bruin, founder of De Bruin Greenhouse Consulting, whose experience spans from Revol Greens to Equilibrium Capital and Bushel Boy Farms. Marco shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the Netherlands to becoming a leading figure in North American greenhouse operations.

Together, they dive into the current state of the CEA industry, discussing the hard lessons learned over the past few years, the growing pains of vertical farming, and the essential role experienced operators play in greenhouse success. Marco offers expert insights on scaling operations sustainably, the importance of in-house talent development, and the future of automation and lighting advancements in high-wire and leafy greens production.

In this episode of CropTalk, I sit down with Chris Higgins, President and Co-Founder of Hort Americas, to explore the evolving landscape of Controlled Environment Agriculture. Chris shares insights on the importance of quality, consistency, and reliability in horticulture, emphasizing how growers can navigate the challenges of supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and rising production costs.

We discuss the rise and fall of vertical farming investments, the lessons learned from overhyped ag-tech, and what it takes to build a sustainable and profitable growing operation. Chris also touches on the need for realistic expectations in CEA, the importance of standardized industry definitions, and how growers can balance innovation with practicality. Looking ahead to 2025, he shares his perspective on where the industry is headed and how businesses can position themselves for long-term success.

In this episode of CropTalk, we dive into the transformative role of AI and data in Controlled Environment Agriculture with Adam Greenberg, CEO of IUNU. Adam shares his expertise on how AI and machine vision are revolutionizing greenhouse operations, the importance of data integration, and why growers must prioritize data ownership to stay competitive.

We explore the evolution of technology in CEA, the commoditization of AI, and what the future holds for innovation, from new data metrics to advances in crop registration. Plus, Adam shares his vision for 2025, including industry growth predictions, the rise of private equity, and the need for transparent, grower-first tech solutions.