Greenhouse Growing
At Sobeys, we pride ourselves on offering fresh produce all year round. Our local growers utilize greenhouse farming to provide fresh produce regardless of the season. By growing fruit and vegetables in climate-controlled environments, greenhouses allow our farmers to extend growing seasons and ensure consistent availability of produce..
This method not only helps reduce the impact of unpredictable weather patterns but also supports sustainable farming practices. With greenhouse farming, we are able to bring you fresh and flavourful produce, whether it’s summer or winter.
What is Greenhouse Growing?
Greenhouse growing, also known as greenhouse farming, is a method of growing plants in a structure designed to regulate temperature, humidity, and light. These greenhouses create an ideal growing environment by protecting crops from outside weather conditions. This controlled environment allows for year-round growth and harvesting, even during Canada’s harsh winters.
Benefits of Greenhouse Farming
There are many key benefits of greenhouse growing, including:
Extended growing seasons: Greenhouses provide a stable and controlled growing environment for year-round cultivation and production. This means that crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers can be grown even in the coldest months, providing fresh produce outside of the traditional growing season.
Climate control: The ability to regulate temperature, humidity and light in a greenhouse helps create the ideal conditions for plant growth, regardless of the weather outside. This can potentially result in higher yields and a more consistent quality of product.
Protection from pests and diseases: The enclosed nature of a greenhouse means there is a barrier against pests, diseases and extreme weather events such as frost, heavy rain, or drought. This helps to decrease the need for pesticides and also helps to minimize crop loss.
Sustainability: This type of growing can provide a more sustainable way of farming by helping to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting out-of-season produce. It can also support local food production, reducing the need for imports.
How Greenhouse Growing Works
Greenhouse structures are typically constructed of glass or plastic that allows sunlight to enter, all while keeping the heat inside. Temperature and humidity are maintained through ventilation, shading and supplemental heating or cooling systems. Crops like tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs thrive in this type of environment. There are several types of growing techniques, including:
- Soil-based growing: Traditional soil gardening in a controlled environment
- Hydroponic systems: Growing plants in water with added nutrients
- Vertical farming: Utilizing vertical space within the greenhouse to maximize crop production.
Canadian Growers
Canadian farmers and growers play a vital role in providing high-quality produce to communities across Canada. By focusing on sustainable farming practices and using innovative methods such as greenhouse farming, Canadian growers are able to produce a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, all while supporting regional agriculture by reducing the environmental impact of long-distance food transportation.
Our local growers are committed to fostering a strong, community-supported retail partnership that also benefits the environment and the people within the community.
Ontario
Nature Fresh Farms
Family-owned, Nature Fresh Farms was founded in 1999. Based in Leamington, Ontario, the Quiring family is dedicated to cultivating a healthier, more sustainable future. At Nature Fresh Farms, they grow fresh, high-quality produce such as tomatoes using the Greenhouse Clean™ approach to ensure exceptional flavour while minimizing environmental impact.
Great Lakes Greenhouses
Great Lakes Greenhouses, a family-owned and operated business, started with a humble 2.5-acre greenhouse in Leamington, Ontario. Today, they proudly operate a 118-acre farm yet maintain the same dedication to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction that has driven them for over 40 years. Committed to delivering the freshest produce, they ensure that their products reach customers within 12-24 hours of harvest.
Atlantic
Stokdijk Greenhouses Ltd.
Since 1956, Stokdijk Greenhouses Ltd. has worked hard to feed their friends and neighbours in Atlantic Canada with some of the highest quality local produce available. A family-owned farm in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, they focus on sustainability and produce tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers available from April to November each year. Third-generation owner and head grower Timothy Stokdijk has maintained a healthy crop by using best management practices like an integrated management program that includes beneficial insects to protect the crop. The family cares for their community by supporting Feed Nova Scotia, sharing fresh produce from the greenhouse and their personal gardens to support healthy food options for our most vulnerable neighbours.
Photo by Johanna Matthews at Portraits
Den Haan
Den Haan Greenhouses was founded in 1963 by Jac den Haan, a Dutch immigrant who brought his family to Canada via Pier 21 in 1951. Today, the company is proudly run by Jac's grandson, Luke. Together with his team, Luke continues the family tradition of growing fresh, high-quality greenhouse produce for the Atlantic Canadian market, and they take great pride in serving their community with quality, locally grown food.