Rebuild Fruit Tree Greenhouse on Pine Island
Donation protected
Hey there! Thanks so much for taking an interest in Annona Breeding Project LLC., also known as ABP! We are a small, 2.5-acre, start-up nursery located on a rural barrier island called Pine Island. We breed and propagate new cultivars of fruits to introduce to fruit growers and nurseries throughout Florida. Pine Island's fruit-growing and commercial fishing heritage stretch back for generations, making it a one-of-a-kind "Old Florida" destination.
Our dream of creating an exotic fruit farm has slowly but surely been coming true. The main barriers we have faced are (a) high infrastructure costs and (b) delayed revenue generation; it takes time and resources like land and irrigation to grow trees! All our time and capital are dedicated to making this project a reality while we work part-time to pay the bills. We purchased our first stainless steel high tunnel greenhouse at the beginning of 2022 with a combination of funds we saved up, support from family, and assistance from Florida Gulf Coast University's School of Entrepreneurship. We learned the hard way that a structure like this is essential for the climate-controlled propagation of tender seedlings.
Hurricane Ian made landfall on Pine Island on September 28, 2022; within a year of building our structure. The storm caused devastating flooding and loss of property throughout Florida and severely impacted the Pine Island community. Sustained winds over 150 mph caused our structure to collapse like a tin can. Having our main propagation house destroyed has set us back a least a year's worth of production, and the damage totals in the tens of thousands. Helping us replace the shadehouse will allow us to get back on track and rebuild more robust than before.
With help from the experts at Treynian Coverings LLC., another local business damaged in the storm, we plan to rebuild with a more robust concept in mind. The new and improved design features a modified, slimmed-down layout and adds horizontal support beams throughout the length of the structure to prevent this from happening again.
One hundred percent of proceeds from GoFundMe will go directly towards the following costs that are associated with building a new greenhouse:
TBD - White Sand Base Fill, Leveling and Grading
$29,934.94 - 60 ft by 60 ft Stainless Steel Greenhouse (Materials)
$398.92 - Irrigation System
We are incredibly thankful for those who have reached out to help. Both the effort and response from the community have been truly amazing! #PINEISLANDSTRONG
Fundraising team: Annona Breeding Project LLC (2)
Marshall Nathanson
Organizer
Bokeelia, FL
Eric Brylle
Team member