Glasgow Daily Times, Glasgow, KY

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August 9, 2008

Trigg finds niche in lettuce

Retired military member brings home different growing method

By JENNIFER MOONSONG

Joseph Trigg, a retired Air Force sergeant, has an affinity for lettuce. Trigg’s first hydroponic lettuce garden was in Las Vegas.

“I started growing hydroponic lettuce almost 20 years ago,” he said. “The military has a lot of different hydroponic processes and I’ve had a hydroponic garden wherever I was stationed.”

The U.S. Army first implemented the use of hydroponics during World War II to feed soldiers stationed on the Pacific islands, but the technique of growing plants in water without soil can be dated as far back as the Babylonian hanging gardens.

Trigg spent 28 years serving in the military before he retired. Being a part of the armed forces offered him a chance to see the world through different eyes and learn to appreciate the different ways things are done in other parts of the world.

“Hydroponic growing isn’t as popular here in the states, but in desert areas and in Europe, the weather makes it so that the only way to grow a good, high-quality lettuce or vegetable is hydroponically. Europe does everything under glass because they aren’t lucky like we are here in Kentucky with good soil.”

Time spent in the Middle East, including time in Israel and three tours to Iraq, got Trigg even more acquainted with hydroponics.

Israel is one of the countries that has embraced hydroponic growing because of the sandy soil and desert climate. “I have seen the Israelis trying to grow lettuce in sandboxes, but they have had to adapt,” he said.

Trigg graduated from Glasgow High School in 1976. When he came back to Glasgow last year, he brought his hydroponic garden with him. Since his return, he has introduced family members — Cedrick, Erron, Christopher and Rodney — to the process. Together they have started Trigg Enterprises.

“We turn over a crop of lettuce about every 40 days,” Trigg said. “Ten days in the nursery and 30 more days to mature. We grow four varieties — little gem or hearts of romaine, bib lettuce, red oak leaf lettuce and butter crunch.”

Trigg’s lettuce is not certifiably organic because he uses hydroponic fertilizer, but he doesn’t use any pesticides or insecticides.

“I use something called Integrated Pest Management to keep the bad bugs away,” said Trigg. IPM is the intentional placement of beneficial insects such as ladybugs and praying mantis to control pests.

“You can never keep them all away, but it sure does help and it does a pretty good job of deterring the bad bugs,” said Trigg.

Planting up to 1,000 lettuce plants a week, he can use all the help he can get. “It’s a very labor-intensive process,” he said.

Others are starting to take notice.

“The Department of Agriculture came out and interviewed us about our good product with such a low risk of bacteria,” said Trigg.

The lettuce is tasty too.

“Everybody who eats the lettuce says it is the best they’ve ever had,” he said.

Aside from local sales the family business is also selling its unique, leaf lettuce to Grasshopper Distribution LLC in Louisville, which in turn, distributes the lettuce to high-end eateries statewide.

In recent weeks, the Triggs have tried their luck at selling the excess lettuce and other produce from a stand near their greenhouse. The stand is located at the corner of Lewis Street and Bunch Avenue.

Trigg has found another way to give back to the community.

“We like to give our excess to the Glasgow Housing Authority,” said Trigg. “They distribute it to people in need, however they see fit.”

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