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Success Stories

Rural Energy for America Program Grant Powers Flower Growth at Michigan Greenhouse

Nicole King
Clean Energy
REAP
Solar Energy
Photo of Sportel Greenhouses' co-owner, Kevin Sportel
Kevin Sportel, co-owner of Sportel Greenhouses

When Ron Sportel’s grandfather started his celery farm in Comstock, Michigan, in 1918, he probably didn’t expect the family farm would sell flowers to big box stores across five states 100 years later.

Sportel’s father and uncle continued growing celery on the family farm until the 1960s, when they switched to selling flowers. In 1979, Ron Sportel purchased the farm from his father and uncle and expanded it to what it is today.

“Sometimes I just walk around amazed,” said Sportel, who owns Sportel Greenhouse along with his son, Kevin. “When I bought it, it was less than three-fourths of an acre under cover. Now we have just over nine acres under cover with four acres outdoors.”

Sportel starts growing his crop of spring annuals in December so the flowers are ready to ship to stores in the spring. The business employs 16 full-time workers year-round and over 45 seasonal workers during their busy season.

“It’s pretty intense for those six weeks in spring in April and May,” said Sportel. “We load probably eight to ten semi-trailers a day out of here.”

Sportel Greenhouse is a certified sustainable business. It switched from using exhaust fans to using natural ventilation to pull air through the greenhouses. Sportel received help from a USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program grant to add solar panels to power part of his business.

photo of solar panels
Sportel Greenhouses Solar Array

“Over the years we’ve changed the way we do things,” said Sportel. “Efficiency is the only way we can make money, so we have to be very efficient. We have to make it flow. The solar panels just added to that.”

Sportel installed his solar panels on a half-acre of land that was otherwise unusable for the farm. The solar panels make approximately 110,000 kilowatt hours of energy per year. They provide power for a greenhouse, shipping barn, planting lines, and computer-controlled vents.

The excess power generated from the panels on sunny days adds credits to the company’s electric bill that help offset costs in the winter when there are less sunny days.

“We couldn’t have justified the solar panels without the help from the USDA grant,” said Sportel. “Everybody around town knows we have them in. They work for us, and they get us some money back from the utilities too.”

Sportel and his son also support the local economy and greenhouse growers. Sportel helped start a brokerage with two other people in 2007 that sells flowers from 25 local greenhouses to big box stores. His son, Kevin, is a Michigan Greenhouse Growers Association board member and helps advocate for local greenhouse farmers.

“This is my 46th year doing this,” shared Sportel. “I still come to work at seven o’clock every day. I like organizing things. I like seeing the flow. I like to see the flowers start from nothing and ship in full color. I just like what I do. I’m thankful and I’m blessed.”

To learn more about different grants and loans available to support your business, visit the programs page.

Obligation Amount:
$41,250
Year(s) of Obligation:
Congressional District:
  • Michigan: District 4