Exploring Canadian Greenhouse Farming

The reason for publishing a story on a foreign (and other hemisphere) country’s greenhouse experience, is mainly for the interest of our many readers in greenhouse farming here at the Southern tip of Africa.

Greenhouse Vegetable Cultivation in Canada

Canada’s greenhouse vegetable growers can also grow produce throughout the winter, from British Columbia to Ontario to Newfoundland. The most popular vegetables across Canada are; tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, bell-peppers, green/yellow beans, eggplants and various herbs and microgreens. Of these commodities, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are the main greenhouse vegetable crops grown commercially by larger scale farmers in Canada.

Canada is situated in the North of the America. The most greenhouse operations are in the South in Ontario district.

Canadian Greenhouse Industry Overview

There are 934 greenhouse fruit and vegetable operations in Canada (February 2024). Leamington is known and recognized as the greenhouse capital of Canada and has seen significant growth year over year in the greenhouse industry. Leamington is at the forefront of greenhouse and agricultural technology development in North America.

Benefits of Greenhouse Farming

The benefits of growing plants and veggies in greenhouses are numerous. They keep plants from freezing in the fall (autumn), and warm over the winter due to improved insulation. They also take advantage of the “Greenhouse Effect” to allow the sun to heat the air and ground in a greenhouse. This greenhouse heating effect further reduces greenhouse air temperature swings, meaning plants remain warmer at night and cooler during the day.

Season Extension and Early Planting

Canadiangreenhouse vegetables are usually planted four to six weeks earlier than outdoor vegetables. The greenhouse season for vegetables is also much longer, often up to sixteen weeks of growing vegetables depending on the greenhouse type and location.

Mastronardi Produce Ltd.: A Leading Player

Mastronardi Produce Ltd., part of the family’s 25-hectare crystal palace in this lush farm belt near Windsor, counts 500 varieties of tomato. Mastronardi is the biggest player in Canada’s booming greenhouse vegetable industry and has several greenhouse operations elsewhere.

Industry Challenges and Future Prospects

Shoppers routinely buy produce from California, Florida, and Mexico, especially in winter. Yet veggies increasingly flow the other way, too. Ideal conditions — a temperate climate, innovative growers, and proximity to the biggest markets in North America — have caused this industry to explode.

Challenges Ahead

The greenhouses, heated with natural gas, already struggle with increased fuel prices under Ontario’s cap-and-trade carbon program. Electricity rate hikes have also taken a toll. Now, the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers says Ontario’s plan to raise the minimum wage and talks of greenhouses closing, or relocating is at hand.

Conclusion: Meeting Demand for Fresh Produce

A positive fact is Canadians consume more ketchup (tomato sauce) per capita than anywhere else. And what does ketchup need most? A whole bunch of tomatoes.

By: JS (information gathered through Canadian Greenhouse operators and newsletters)