Continuing a legacy

When Alan Barnitz was 6 years old, he, along with his brother and cousins, were bribed by their parents to help put black shuttle trays together for the business (They were rewarded $1 for each tray). Now, at 31 years old, he’s still fascinated by the planting process.

“I love the stages of plants. You get to see them sprout, and then five to six weeks later, you get to see them go to a new home,” Barnitz says.

Today, Barnitz supervises the company’s new gapping machine which was purchased last year. The machine gaps 288-trays and 512-trays and patches them to 99 percent. As a company that produces millions of plugs annually for Ball Seed, which are distributed nationwide, the gapping machine is an integral part of minimizing labor and improving efficiency.

“We live in a really small town of about 1,500, and the labor force is very difficult at times. Turnover on labor is just astronomical. This machine has helped us tremendously. And it’s consistent. It doesn’t get sick or have ailments. It doesn’t get tired, either,” he says.

Barnitz’s official title is assistant manager of seedling production, although being a part of the family business has him working in all areas of Bob’s Market and Greenhouses’ five locations. In addition to his work with a new gapping machine, Barnitz assists with shipping and logistics for the plugs. He’s also done construction work on the greenhouses, built gas lines and made deliveries. He recently took an unexpected trip to Dover, Penn. for an 860-mile overnight delivery because he was the only one available.

And for Barnitz, the best aspect of working in horticulture is the opportunity to pass along the greenhouses’ plants to new owners.

“My favorite part would be getting to see the finished product as it goes on the truck, and you know you’ve done your job, and now it’s going to someone else. It’s their turn,” he says.
 

Family matters

Being in the family business gives Barnitz a handful of mentors and role models who continue to teach him every day. His family members have doubled as professional mentors and personal role models.

Barnitz’s biggest role model is his father, Bobby Barnitz. “His work ethic is relentless… He’s unbelievable with numbers. He’s in charge of all of our sales and plug production, and he can remember who gets what, what week,” he says.

And working alongside his cousins makes the day enjoyable. “We were best friends growing up, and [now] I get to see them every day.”

But it’s not all about work for the Barnitz family. The tight-knit crew also makes time to travel and vacation together. One of their favorite spots to escape to is the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.
 

Generational shift

Barnitz is cognizant of the way his generation is using plants in their everyday lives as well as the growing competition from big-box retailers.

“[Customers] are getting back to being a ‘do-it-yourselfer’ kind of person. They’re going shopping, getting married, buying houses and fixing up their houses," he says. Then, they're going to chain stores like Lowe's, Home Depot and Menard's to get their products. “In the past it’s been, ‘Let’s go to the garden center because there is good product there,’ and I hope that doesn’t go away.”

Barnitz also plans to continue the family legacy. His goal one day is to have some ownership of the company, and take Bob’s Market and Greenhouses’ shipping and logistics to a greater national level.