Smart Irrigation to Cut Water Use 29% at Jelly Belly

A new smart irrigation controller system is expected to reduce outdoor water use by 29% at the California headquarters of the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

The family-owned company – famous for more than 100 flavors of jelly beans – is replacing out-dated irrigation clocks at its 35-acre campus in Fairfield, California with the WeatherTRAK Smart Water Management system by HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc.

The system provides grounds crews with round-the-clock information and remote control access to irrigation schedules and water use. Daily evapotranspiration data is transmitted to the WeatherTRAK controllers, updating the automated watering schedules as local weather conditions change.

As a result, plants receive precise amounts of water only when they need it, saving water resources and reducing staff hours and costs.

"We actively look for ways to improve cost efficiencies in our manufacturing and site expenses," says Jeff Brown, vice president operations and distribution for Jelly Belly. "An inviting look to our campus is important since we host a half million members of the public each year to our tours. An irrigation solution with minimal capital investment and disruption that would yield significant water savings in our landscaped areas was intriguing. With HydroPoint’s WeatherTRAK irrigation controllers we expect to see significant cost savings."

Jelly Belly has been in operation since 1898, but came into worldwide prominence after Ronald Reagan was seen eating the company’s jelly beans on the presidential campaign trail in 1980.