Staff Reports
Johnny Georges, a Florida farmer, stepped onto the “Shark Tank” stage with a simple mission: help American farmers save water and protect their crops. His invention, the Tree-T-Pee, uses recycled plastic cones to cut water use by 97% per tree. The Sharks were stunned—not just by the product, but by Johnny’s refusal to exploit struggling farmers for bigger profits.
The Tree-T-Pee works by trapping water and warmth around young trees. Instead of wasting 25,000 gallons yearly per tree, farmers use just 800 gallons. It also shields crops from frost damage. Johnny priced it at $4.50 each—barely making $1 profit—because he believes in putting farmers first, not corporate greed.
Kevin O’Leary mocked the low prices, demanding Johnny charge $12. But special guest Shark John Paul DeJoria saw the bigger picture. Moved by Johnny’s dedication to family farmers, DeJoria offered the full $150,000 investment for 20% of the business. The two men shook hands, sealing a partnership built on old-fashioned American values.
Since the deal, Tree-T-Pee has exploded. Home Depot now stocks the product, and farmers nationwide are slashing water bills. Johnny travels state to state, teaching growers how to use his invention. He turned down “easy money” schemes to keep prices affordable, proving that hard work beats Wall Street tricks every time.
Johnny’s late father—a citrus farming pioneer—taught him that real success comes from serving others. “My dad believed nobody owes you nothing. Life’s what you make it,” Johnny told the Sharks through tears. That blue-collar wisdom drives him to help farmers survive droughts and rising costs.
While coastal elites push expensive “green” solutions, Johnny’s invention shows conservation doesn’t require bankrupting rural America. His cones use recycled plastic, cut fertilizer costs, and let farmers keep their land productive. It’s common-sense environmentalism that actually works.
Today, Tree-T-Pee operates globally while staying true to its roots. Johnny still personally answers calls from farmers. “If I save five trees, that’s a win,” he says. In an era of faceless corporations, he proves one man with grit can make a difference.
Johnny Georges represents the best of America—innovation born in dirt fields, not Silicon Valley labs. His story reminds us that feeding our nation starts with supporting the hands that grow our food. As cities lecture farmers about sustainability, this humble patriot is already delivering solutions.
