With the new year comes new opportunity and I am excited to see how the next 12 months roll out.
As we get into the busier season for our readership, there’s a lot of optimism about what 2024 has in store for greenhouse growers across the country. There’s no escaping the fact, however, that there are still some significant challenges the sector is facing down. Inflation, interest rates, climate change, geopolitical conflict, and energy are just a small fraction of the issues growers are forced to confront in their operations. This month, as we mark the turning of another year, we explore some of those 2023 challenges and consider what 2024 might look like for the industry. To read more on the state of the Canadian greenhouse industry as we embark on a new year, check out page 8. Our columnist Gary Jones, also weighs in on the subject on page 38.
Looking back and forward at 2023 and 2024 can’t be done without considering the implications and challenges of the pandemic. The crisis put tremendous pressure on every aspect of the industry and businesses are still struggling to come to terms with the fallout of those years. Moving ahead, it would behoove any business owner to reflect on their experience and perhaps think ahead to how they might weather the next crisis. In this issue, we explore what crisis management might look like for greenhouses and how to get started on page 24.
While we keep looking back in this issue, I also take a moment to highlight some of the special moments form the Green Industry Show and Conference held in Red Deer, Alta., in November. The event featured a bus tour, and two days of presentations, educational sessions, and networking events, not to mention the busy trade show floor with more than 100 exhibitors. Photos and a recap of some of the highlights from GISC 2023 can be found on page 36.
Growers looking to optimize pepper production through the winter months will want to turn to page 20 for practical and actionable advice from Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza, while on page 18, we get the scoop on research coming out of Assiniboine College, a renowned institution supporting Manitoba’s agri-food industry.
On the cover this month, we feature the breathtaking winner of our photo contest, sent to us from Colin Van Geest of Pump House Gardens in Beamsville, Ont. This image was chosen from among 40 stunning entries from across Canada. We were so pleased with the number and calibre of entries sent to us that we will be featuring as many as possible over the coming weeks and months online and in these pages. On page 34 we take a look at the top contenders for the January 2024 cover.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to submit a photo for this contest. It was a lovely and humbling experience to see the Canadian greenhouse industry from all your perspectives and to experience, once again, the engagement and support of this industry and its people.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Print this page
