Keithly Williams Seeds: A Legacy of Growth and Innovation

With nearly 40 years of success under its belt, Keithly Williams Seeds stands as a major western vegetable seed distributor.

However, labeling themselves as only a seed company no longer captures the complete range of support they provide to their customers. Keithly Williams has three major components to their business: seed production and sales, transplants, and Agriculture equipment fabrication. Serving markets in the U.S. and Mexico, their focus is clear: delivering top-quality products and solutions to support growers at every step.

In 2018, their acquisition of new land in Yuma, Arizona, marked a significant milestone in achieving this mission. It was here where Mario, Chief of Facilities Maintenance, envisioned a game-changing use for this land. With the support of Keithly Williams’ leadership, Stuppy Regional Sales Manager Armando Echavarria, and the expertise of Stuppy Greenhouse, Inc., did that vision take shape by custom-engineered greenhouses designed for maximum efficiency, superior plant quality, and future-proof automation.

Engineering Excellence: Where Innovation Meets Practicality

This four- to five-year project was not a straightforward process. It involved countless brainstorming sessions and back-and-forth discussions with Stuppy’s engineering team to push the boundaries of what was possible. The first custom greenhouse design was finalized with a focus on optimizing space, improving crop quality, and preparing for future automation.

One concern Mario noted of a more standard greenhouse design is the space between columns, which is around 6ft or 12ft apart. “They need to fit exactly in the center of the pole… because we want, in the future, to automate the system to pick up all the trays in the greenhouse. So, we need to make a perfect size for the distance between the poles,” stated Mario. This was not the only custom feature of their greenhouses, though. Their specific truss design ensured their watering system could be integrated seamlessly into the design to adjust the screen net installation.

“It took a bit of ‘begging’ to the engineering team that [this isn’t a one-time build], we are going to build a lot of these [greenhouses],” expressed Mario. Through collaboration, Keithly Williams and Stuppy created an efficient, replicable design that is now the company’s standard.

Productivity Gains: A Win for Growers and Teams

This new Keithly Williams standard has allowed the company to future-proof their greenhouses, increase plant quality, and improve efficiency throughout their team. A simple yet impactful change in the spacing of the columns, Keithly Williams was able to improve productivity in their process now since “every column lines up directly with a T-rail and never interferes with the material handling…,” explained Armando. Additionally, they were able to allow for future growth, so when Keithly Williams is ready to automate parts of their process, everything should be able to seamlessly integrate without the columns interfering with the machines.

Not only are Mario and his team able to handle their product more adequately, but Keithly Williams’ plant health has skyrocketed. According to Mario, long-time customers have noted the difference. “[Customers] are calling us and saying, ‘You know what, this is the most beautiful plants [we have] received from you in the last [few] years.”

The revamped screen net design is another game-changer. The design now allows Mario and his team to handle “10 screen nets [per] day versus the other [greenhouses on the property]. In the other facilities, they put only one net per day,” explained Mario.

At this point, the employees are practically jumping at the chance to work in the new Stuppy-designed greenhouses instead of the older houses without all these new upgrades and modifications. Luckily for them, we currently have over 50 Stuppy greenhouses with a goal of having over 100 houses over the next couple of years.

Gratitude and Reflection

Watching this project go from uneven desert to useable and functional land for years to come has been an incredibly rewarding experience for Keithly Williams and Stuppy, Inc.

“One of the satisfying parts is taking a sandy desert land and the amount of planning and infrastructure was all done in-house – [meaning] all the plumbing, gas lines, electrical work, etc. went into a raw piece of land. For the result to be an increase in production and efficiency is an incredible transformation to watch. I mean, [Keithly Williams] is growing the starts of food, so it’s going to go on someone’s dinner table eventually…and [knowing you are] a part of that, to know that you are creating, contributing, and that it’s something that is benefiting not only Stuppy, not only Keithly Williams, but really people in general – that’s super satisfying,” expressed Armando.

Mario echoed this sentiment. “First thing, I want to be grateful for the confidence of the owner of Keithly Williams to give me the opportunity to implement all of the [greenhouse] designs and giving me the chance to do what I think [is best] …I feel like we are doing something right.”

Building the Future of Agriculture

Keithly Williams continues to lead the way in agriculture, encouraging growers to think beyond conventional ideas. Partnering with a greenhouse manufacturer company like Stuppy, who listens, collaborates, and brings your vision to life is what will contribute to the agricultural world to help improve and meet demands.

While product and profit improvements are vital, Keithly Williams took it a step further to care for their people. Their innovative ideas transformed working conditions which foster enthusiasm within their team, increasing the happiness of their employees who they view as family – and therefore the product they provide to their customers. By blending innovation with care, Keithly Williams is setting the standard for agricultural success.

Author: Maria Burns