As the sun rose bright and early, the MaMa Jean’s team set off on another exciting adventure to explore a nearby local farm. Everyone in the group was eagerly looking forward to this particular visit because farms specializing in exotic fruits are quite rare. GC Riley & Co., nestled on a picturesque 30-acre plot in Pierce City, Missouri, was our destination. Co-founder Colton Drollinger greeted us warmly in their spacious office, marking the start of our tour.
Growing up in Pierce City, Colton initially pursued sports turf management after working with the Springfield Cardinals during college. However, everything shifted when he spotted a passion fruit flower while strolling through the Missouri State University campus with his dad. That intriguing plant ignited a passion for exotic plants within his entrepreneurial father, Greg. Just a month after earning his degree in Environmental Plant Sciences from Missouri State, Colton established the LLC of GC Riley & Company with the vision of launching Missouri's first dragon fruit farm.
Construction on their first greenhouse began in 2019, transforming an old frame into a unique double-peaked structure. The plants, sourced from a nursery in Florida, found their new home in September 2020. Despite their young age, these plants are already yielding more than anticipated. This father-son duo is truly breaking new ground in exotic fruit farming in the Midwest, as they are currently the sole local growers of dragon fruit.
Colton mentioned, "The downside of growing in a greenhouse is that no one has done it before, and there's no existing data on the production of this plant." While dragon fruit typically only blooms in the summer in Mexico, Colton hopes to achieve year-round harvests in their controlled greenhouse environment. Most of the dragon fruit in the U.S. is imported, so it’s thrilling to have local growers here in Missouri.
The greenhouses are monitored around the clock by a computer-controlled system that Colton programmed himself. Humidity, sunlight, and water are meticulously tracked. If anything goes awry, Colton receives alerts via text and email, allowing him to make necessary adjustments promptly. In the future, Colton plans to build a second greenhouse for more dragon fruit and expand into passionfruit cultivation.
Inside the Fertigation Room, we saw how water is filtered and purified with UV light before being distributed to the greenhouse. GC Riley uses only natural pesticides and fertilizers, prioritizing organic practices and sustainability. Next door, we visited the Production Room where picked fruit is cleaned and packed for delivery to markets.
In the greenhouse, we encountered rows of climbing cacti carefully supported by wooden structures. Each evening, the dragon fruit flowers bloom, turning the greenhouse into a hidden oasis. Colton and his team must rise early to hand-pollinate each bloom so the plant can bear fruit. As morning approaches, these stunning flowers quickly wilt and close, giving way to vibrant pink and purple scaly fruit. It’s easy to understand why this remarkable fruit earned its name!
What makes dragon fruit so special? Packed with fiber and antioxidants, it helps reduce free radicals and is naturally fat-free, rich in vitamins and minerals. Perfect for breakfast or a low-sugar snack, it offers a delightful mix of sweet and tart flavors.
To serve dragon fruit, chill it and cut it in half. Scoop out the flesh and seeds like you would with a kiwi fruit.
Dragon fruit benefits include moisturizing and smoothing skin, lowering bad cholesterol levels, reducing blood glucose, preventing cancer-causing free radicals, improving appetite, enhancing metabolism, aiding digestion and fat reduction, maintaining healthy eyes, strengthening bones and teeth, promoting tissue development, aiding wound healing, and improving memory.
This visit was an unforgettable experience, offering insights into the innovative world of exotic fruit farming right here in Missouri.
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