It is difficult to imagine a more picturesque setting or a more awe-inspiring monument than SunMed Growers’ 250,000 ft2 greenhouse in Warwick, Maryland. Situated at the northeastern end of Chesapeake Bay, where the Bohemia River and the Backcreek cut like roots into the land, third-generation owner Jake Van Wingerden is not just keeping his family’s deep-rooted dreams—he’s growing them.

While Jake’s grandfather grew beautiful pansies and poinsettias, the ever-evolving market has seen a new medicinal crop—cannabis–take wing. Six years ago, SunMed’s facilities spanned 70,000 ft2 and relied on HPS lighting. However, in 2019, Van Wingerden retrofitted the expanding facility to incorporate Fluence’s LED technology (VYPR) as part of their automated and optimized system that includes a Dutch rolling table to move plants between stages. By doing so, SunMed has ensured consistency and quality throughout the year. Long respected in the community and with a powerful legacy, SunMed is now the largest cultivator in Maryland and continues to expand and grow. Currently, their renowned team and Fluence’s horticultural experts are working together to double the facility’s light intensity, made possible by Fluence’s advanced LEDs and an unrelenting dedication to science.