Petitti Family Farms using Burro autonomous robots, with plans to add more

Petitti Family Farms is currently using 10 Burro autonomous robots at its Ridge Manor facility, with an additional 15 units secured for deployment by the end of the year, bringing the total fleet to 25 robots.

The company said the robotics investment in will help modernize operations, lower costs and improve efficiency across the company’s nursery operations.

Petitti Family Farms also plans to expand the use of Burro technology to its Cass Mill Farm in 2026.

Each Burro robot has a payload capacity of up to 500 pounds on flat terrain. Burro Grande models are able to tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The robots travel at 5 to 5.8 miles per hour, depending on the terrain, and 2.56 kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate batteries support up to 10 miles per charge.

The robots are built for nursery environments and are IP65-rated, with rugged tires, safety lighting, bumpers and audible alerts.

Equipped with AI, vision systems and high-precision GPS, Burros learn routes and share data across the fleet. They're monitored via an online dashboard for real-time control and updates.

Since their deployment at the nursery earlier this year, Burro robots have been integrated into daily operations at Ridge Manor, where they are being used to:

• Assist with spacing by transporting plants efficiently during spacing operations, reducing the labor required to move heavy containers across fields.
• Support potting lines by moving newly potted plants from production lines to growing areas, keeping workflow continuous and reducing downtime.
• Pull for shipping by assisting crews in retrieving plants for orders, shortening turnaround time and reducing reliance on tractors and carts.

These applications have already generated labor savings, fuel reductions and lower equipment maintenance costs, the company said.

“Deploying Burro robots at Ridge Manor has been game-changing. They’re already supporting spacing, potting and shipping, helping us save labor, reduce costs and move materials more efficiently,” said Petitti Family Farms President Joe Allio.

The company said that the autonomous hauling reduces the physical burden on staff and frees labor for higher-value production tasks, with the Burros also lowering operating costs by cutting fuel use, reducing wear on tractors and carts, and minimizing maintenance costs.

The streamlined transport also improves workflow during spacing, potting and shipping operations, the company said, which added that expanding to a fleet of 25 units now, with plans for Cass Mill in 2026, sets the stage for broader automation across the enterprise.

“Our long-term vision is to modernize every part of our nursery operations. Expanding Burro to Cass Mill in 2026 will be another step in ensuring Petitti Family Farms stays ahead in efficiency and innovation,” said Petitti Family Farms Chair Angelo Petitti.

Petitti Family Farms is partnering with Burro and AdeptAg on the autonomous technology.

“Our 20-plus year partnership with Petitti Family Farms is one we deeply value. Angelo and Joe’s vision and belief in nursery automation continue to drive the industry forward,” said AdeptAg Regional Sales Manager Rob Draga.

"Our vision for the future of horticulture isn't elaborate, complex, fancy technology. It's tech that's easy for anyone to use. Tech that gets dirty, doing real work. It's freeing team members from repetitive, tedious work and giving them a path for upward mobility in their careers. Tractor drivers, plant trimmers and material movers can be horticulturists, plant health specialists and operations managers. Without question, the future is now at Petitti." said Burro Senior Vice President Ryan Clifford. 

About Petitti Family of Farms

Petitti Family Farms, headquartered in Perry, Ohio, is a collection of farms owned and operated by the Petitti family, including Willowbend Nursery, Ridge Manor Nursery, Losely Nursery and Klyn Nursery. The combined operation encompasses more than 4,000 acres (3,000 acres of field production and 1,000 acres of container production), all located in Lake County, Ohio.

The operation specializes in the sale of container, bareroot and balled-and-burlapped trees, shrubs and perennials to garden centers, re-wholesalers, growers and the landscape trade.

Angelo Petitti purchased his first 30 acres of farmland in Northeast Ohio in 1991 and began growing trees and shrubs to supply Petitti Garden Centers.

Over the past 30 years, Angelo Petitti has significantly expanded his farming presence across Lake County through growth and acquisition. Petitti Family Farms is the family-owned collection of farms representing 4,000 acres of field and container production. It's a grower of brands including Endless Summer, First Editions, NewGen Boxwood, Proven Winners and Star Roses and Plants.

The majority of plants grown at each nursery site are designated to serve wholesalers and landscapers across the U.S. and Canada.

Willowbend, the flagship bare root nursery, is a wholesale distributor that specializes in bare root hydrangea trees and shrubs on more than 800 acres of field production in Perry, Ohio. The farm is home to the nurseries’ corporate headquarters, and bareroot stock over-winter storage is also located in climate-controlled facilities on the property.

Ridge Manor, a container farm in Madison, Ohio, is situated across over 500 acres and multiple locations and offers a full line of zone-hardy container trees, shrubs, perennials, roses and grasses for sale to landscapers, re-wholesalers and garden centers. Potting lines are also located at this site.

Losely, an over 1,200-acre mature ball and burlap stock nursery acquired in 2022, specializes in mature trees, shrubs and evergreens, with more than 1,000 varieties of tree, shrub, evergreen and ornamental plant material available for sale to landscapers, re-wholesalers and garden centers.

Klyn Distribution offers more than 1,200 native perennials, grasses, trees, shrubs, bamboo and specialty plants to landscape contractors, municipalities and garden centers.