Introduction to Costa Farms | one
Costa Farms was founded in 1961 by Jose A. Costa Sr. The business began with a few acres and is now a third generation family business, with over 2,800 employees spread over 3,500 acres.
Along with thriving indoor houseplant and bedding plant divisions, Costa Farms operates merchandising and transportation companies as part of its infrastructure, with operations domestically in South Florida and North Carolina, and abroad in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Far East.
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Foliage
Division
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The Foliage division grows all of Costa Farms’ indoor and landscape plants, encompassing approximately 1,150 products and is located on 1,100 acres in south Florida. Costa Farms ships foliage plants throughout North America, Canada, and the Caribbean.
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Bedding Plant
Division
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The Bedding Plant division grows all of Costa Farms’ bedding plant varieties, comprised of over 2,500 products and operates on 130 acres in south Florida and 65 acres in Asheville, North Carolina.
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Overseas
Operations
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Costa Farms has facilities in the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, which primarily grows ‘starter’ plant material that is shipped to the U.S. and finished for sale.
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FIGURE 1: COSTA FARMS COLOR DIVISION, MIAMI FL
Internship Details | two
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Logistics
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Location: Costa Farms, Miami, FL
Housing: Assistance provided.
Transportation: Not provided. Interns are responsible for getting to and from work each day.
Hours: Monday – Friday; 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Duration: 3 month minimum.
Hourly Wage: Variable depending on previous experience.
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Overview
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An internship at Costa Farms is intended to be dynamic and offers interns the opportunity to learn many different aspects of a very diverse business. During the 2011 year, we will be offering three internship tracks, depending on interest and availability. The three tracks are Research & Development, Growing (Bedding Plant Focus), and Growing (Foliage Plant Focus).
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Core
Program
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Internship projects are initiated through the Research & Development Department. The first week of the internship program is designed to be an introduction to the different components of the business. The intern will spend time with individuals from sales and marketing, transportation, operations and production. This week will be the same, regardless of the track chosen. The second week, the student will begin his/her specialized program track. |
Internship Tracks | three
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Description: The Research & Development Department oversees trials throughout the entire company. The main facility is located at Costa Farms’ Bedding Plant Division in Miami, FL. Trials are divided into five classifications, (1) Cultural Trials, (2) New Product Trials, (3) Variety Comparison Trials, (4) Sustainability Trials and (5) Post-Harvest Trials.
Program: The intern will select an experiment from a list of existing or pending trials that he/she would like to be responsible for. Responsibilities would include developing a trial protocol, data collection, summarizing and writing a report of the results at the end of the trial and presenting the results at the monthly Research & Development meeting to the company.
Additional Responsibilities: In addition to having his/her own project, the student will also be involved in other trials and projects occurring in the Research & Development Department. The intern will have the opportunity to be a part of evaluations of the Trial Garden plant material, database resource development, involved in R&D production decisions pertaining to growing, plant care and maintenance and integrated pest management (IPM).
Potential Career Track: Students who are interested in a career in the horticulture industry, performing Research & Development, Technical Support or continuing on to graduate school will gain important career skills through this internship track.
GROWING: BEDDING PLANTS
Description: The bedding plant division at Costa Farms is divided into two locations, Miami, FL and Asheville, NC. The majority of our bedding plants are started at the Miami location in the Plug and Propagation facility. Finished crops are divided into three main sections: annual bedding plants, specialty flowering plants, and Florida perennial plants.
Program: The intern will have the opportunity to work one week in each growing area starting with plug and propagation and then rotating between each of the 3 finished production areas. Upon completion of those 4 weeks the student will select a growing area in which he/she would like to spend additional time in. At this point working with the Head Grower of that area and the R&D Department, a project will be developed. For example, should the student choose bedding plants a related project may include researching options for a biological spray program for the vegetable and herb crops, setting up a spray trial, and then making a report and recommendation to the growing team based on the results.
Additional Responsibilities: In addition to having his/her own project the student will also be involved in the daily growing of the crops within the growing area. The intern will have the opportunity to be a part of: scouting the plants for insects and disease and subsequent spray decisions based on thresholds, watering plants, plant maintenance, and making decisions on when to apply growth regulators.
Potential Career Track: Students who are interested in a career as a Grower, Head Grower or Production Manager of a nursery or greenhouse operation will learn valuable skills through this internship track.
GROWING: FOLIAGE PLANTS
Description: The foliage plant division at Costa Farms is divided into multiple locations throughout Florida; however the main location is in Miami. The foliage plant division produces two main types of crops indoor foliage plants, landscape plants, and succulents and cacti.
Program: The intern will have the opportunity to work one week in each growing area. Upon completion of that rotation the student will select a growing area in which he/she would like to spend additional time in. At this point working with the Head Grower of that area and the R&D Department, a project will be developed. For example, should the student choose indoor foliage plants a related may be evaluating postharvest performance and sell-through of new production items.
Additional Responsibilities: In addition to having his/her own project the student will also be involved in the daily growing of the crops within the growing area. The intern will have the opportunity to be a part of: scouting the plants for insects and disease and subsequent spray decisions based on thresholds, watering plants, plant maintenance, and making decisions on when to apply growth regulators.
Potential Career Track: Students who are interested in a career as a Grower, Head Grower or Production Manager of a nursery or greenhouse operation will learn valuable skills through this internship track.