Everyday, Esmeralda Farms is working towards total Biological Control.  

Esmeralda uses minimal quantities of pesticides to grow its premium flowers. Only chemicals certified and approved for use by the EPA, FLP and Florverde are used on our products. Oftentimes, a visible film builds up on the leaf surface with excessive use of chemicals which is very unsightly, reduces vase life, and can be harmful to humans and pets.  Esmeralda flowers do not have any visible residue. Our foliage is healthy, clean, and possesses a shiny, green color.

So, how do we achieve such high quality and such low chemical usage? 

Integrated Pest Management:
		We cultivate fungi at our on site laboratories. Different types of fungi are cultivated at our farm laboratories.  Once ready, this is applied to the field plants either by spraying or drenching in order to attack the diseases that may grow on the plant.
		Another method of IPM is by introducing predator mites to attack and eat the harmful spiders that damage a plant’s foliage.
		Insect control is also maintained through the use of vacuums or large blowers that blow insects onto a large yellow sticky screen.

In addition, we process our own ecologically friendly fertilizers to replace artificial fertilizers. For example…
		Organic waste such as imperfect stems or plant material that do not meet our export standards, are recycled and shredded into compost.
		Another method is recycling organic waste material into Worm Humus Culture.  Shredded material is put into beds inhabited by worms who then eat this as their food.  The excrement produced by the worms serves as an excellent fertilizer.

These methods are safer for the flowers and are environmentally friendly.