More Strawberries, Less Labor: Automation at Wish Farms
At Wish Farms in Florida, managing 750 acres of strawberries used to mean long hours in the field, manual valve work, and irrigation scheduling. With expansion came the need for a system that could keep up. That’s where our DropControl platform and WiseConn hardware came in.
By installing our RF-C1 for fertigation pump control, our RF-X1 field node, and RF-M1 monitoring node, Chris Parks and his team gained full visibility and remote control over every part of their irrigation system. From their phone, they can now monitor field conditions, make adjustments in real time, and manage water use with precision. The result is less time in the truck, fewer people dedicated to irrigation, and more capacity to grow.
Scaling Efficiently Without Adding Labor
Wish Farms has been farming since 1987, with the last 10 focused on strawberries. As their operation grew, manually managing valves and pumps across the property became a daily challenge. Our system helped eliminate that bottleneck.
With DropControl in place, valve control, fertigation scheduling, and pressure monitoring are all handled through our web and mobile platform. Chris doesn’t have to be in the field to make changes or check status, our network of nodes makes it possible to manage everything remotely.
"Managing irrigation across 96 fields used to take multiple people and hours each day. Now I have full control with DropControl. I can make changes on the fly, monitor pressure, adjust, and keep the system running without stepping into the field, all in real time"
Chris Parks - Wish Farms
Data-Driven Irrigation for Strawberries
Strawberries demand accuracy. Water too early or too late, and it impacts fruit quality and root health. Our system gives Chris real-time visibility into soil moisture and weather conditions, making it easier to schedule irrigations based on what the field actually needs.
We also integrate with weather stations and sensors, so Chris can track trends and review data season over season. Last year when saltwater from a hurricane threatened the farm, he used DropControl to initiate a backflushing in his irrigation system. That helped flush salts from the root zone and keep the irrigation system running clean. Being able to respond immediately helped him protect the crop and avoid long-term damage to his fields.
Benefits Beyond the Field
Wish Farms has seen tangible benefits since adopting automation:
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Manual valve operation was replaced with remote scheduling and centralized control
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Labor and vehicle use were significantly reduced
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Irrigation timing and fertigation accuracy improved berry quality and root health
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Yearly data collection helped optimize future growing seasons
“The reliability and simplicity of WiseConn’s system is what makes it stand out. I can monitor pressure, schedule fertigation, and respond to issues right away without sending someone out. We save labor and keep everything consistent.”
Chris Parks - Wish Farms
Automation That Matches the Demands of a Modern Farm
Chris Parks isn’t just managing a strawberry farm. He’s managing the largest continuous strawberry operation on the East Coast. What once required hours of manual labor is now handled from a phone. Whether he’s scheduling a fertigation, flushing a line, or adjusting to changing weather, Chris has full control wherever he is.
With DropControl, he can respond faster, use water more efficiently, and protect crop health across the entire operation. It’s a system that simplifies the day-to-day and supports the long-term decisions that help a farm grow.
Want to see what that looks like in practice?
Download the Wish Farms testimonial to learn more.
