Business Up Front VERANSA

By Jim Frankowiak

TRANSFORMING WOOD AND GREEN WASTE INTO SUPERIOR-QUALITY, SOIL REGENERATING, BENEFICIAL ORGANIC PRODUCTS

Formed in 2021, Veransa has quickly become a zero-waste leader in transforming urban wood and green waste into beneficial premium organic soil amendments that increase crop yields and regenerate even the most degraded agricultural soils. As a result of using these products, farmers can grow healthier, more resilient crops and save money on water, fertilizer and pesticide needs. Veransa controls the flow of feedstock used to manufacture their products so that the products are continuously available on an industrial scale. No order is too large to fill.

The company currently has two organic soil amendment facilities which are fed through a continuous flow of green and wood materials collected at Veransa’s five recycling facilities. Veransa is a market leader that recycles more than 35 percent of all the green and wood waste generated in Southwest and Central Florida. Veransa’s raw materials are provided primarily by landscaping companies, arborists, municipalities, as well as home owners.

“Veransa is a win-win for Florida’s farmers, its environment and its economy,” said Roger Johansson, Executive Chairman of the company. “Our model transforms green and wood waste into products that have many added environmental benefits. Our organic compost helps to regenerate Florida’s sandy agricultural soil and keep the state’s waterways free from runoff by increasing soil water-retention capacity and reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers.”

“This green material is transformed into organic compost and soil blends, while the wood they receive is transformed into a variety of mulch products,” said Johansson. Most green materials received are processed and used in the production of Veransa’s REGEN Florida Organic Compost®. This product is a superior quality, soil regenerating, organic compost that is certified and listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), has the Seal of Testing Assurance Program (STA) for Compost Manufacturers and is made from only professionally cured and composted green materials that are free of biosolids, manure or food waste, all of which are critical concerns of growers, particularly organic fruit and vegetable producers. “Veransa is unique in producing premium, certified organic, OMRI Listed® and STA approved compost on an industrial scale in Southwest and Central Florida,” said Roxane Teymourtash, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Veransa Group, Inc.

“REGEN Organic Compost® is like a probiotic for the soil,” said Teymourtash. “Its benefits include increased yields of fruits vegetables and ornamental crops. The product increases plant growth speed, root health and drought resilience. REGEN can save money and water by reducing water usage needs and increasing soil water retention. It also reduces the need for both fertilizers and pesticides. If combined, it increases fertilizer efficiency.”

“This soil amendment enriches soil with micro and macro nutrients, and beneficial organisms that work together to protect the crop which they feed off,” she said. “Sadly, our agricultural soils are being quickly depleted by unsustainable agricultural practices that strip organic matter out, and then need to rely on adding more and more chemical fertilizers to be able to grow on increasingly infertile soils. REGEN can reverse degradation and truly regenerate our soils. It can even turn sand into healthy and fertile soil.”

“All of the wood material we receive is transformed into mulch products, and we will soon produce renewable energy products,” Teymourtash added. “Our REGEN Composted Mulch is also soil-regenerating and water saving. It is made from organic composted hardwood bark that has been screened out of our compost piles and then processed to two-inches minus, with minimal fines. It has a natural brownish-black color without the addition of any chemicals or coloring.

“REGEN Mulch increases soil water retention, improves soil structure, increases organic matter and plant growth,” said Teymourtash. “It adds necessary soil nutrients as it decomposes and encourages mycelium growth. The result is richer, nutrient-dense soil that doesn’t require as much irrigation and fertilization or pesticide use, all important considerations for growers.

“Additionally, this mulch is a wonderful soil amendment to mix into existing soil when planting trees and shrubs, and also for gardens and planting beds. The product is also a great ground cover, helping to protect tree and shrub roots from the impact of extreme weather conditions,” she said.

“Our Zero-Waste approach is an additional and important consideration since it means that 100 percent of organic materials are sustainably transformed into beneficial re-use products,” Teymourtash said. “We take pride in the reliability and speed of our processing, which utilizes electric-powered equipment where possible for more sustainable recycling.”

Veransa’s facilities offer easy accessibility, disposal with hands-on help and pull-off service – all consistently and reliably provided in a friendly manner.

The company’s Seffner operation is located at 6727 County Road 579, Seffner, Florida 33584. The facility is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed on Sunday. In addition to green and wood waste disposal, recycling service and manufacturing, the Seffner location sells organic compost and soil blends. Veransa regularly provides tours of this flagship facility to farmers, staff from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and other educators in the state. Call 813/628-0600 to schedule a tour.

More information about Veransa, its capabilities, Seffner facility tours and products is available at www.veransa.com.