Nature Fresh joins Certified Greenhouse Farmers

August 14, 2012

Written by Certified Greenhouse Farmers

Aug. 14, 2012, Leamington, Ont. — With a shared commitment to protecting the integrity of the greenhouse growing process, Nature Fresh Farms is joining Certified Greenhouse Farmers.

As the newest member of the trade association – which advocates for a national definition for “greenhouse grown” – the Leamington, Ontario-based Nature Fresh Farms meets the associations’ definition for greenhouse, and underwent a rigorous, independent, third-party audit against the association's certification standard.

Among the items audited include: structural and environmental controls, water resource management, Integrated Pest Management procedures, plant nutrition management, ecosystem management, and integrated waste management.

“From our first interactions with the Nature Fresh team, it was clear they shared in our values and commitment to growing with integrity, producing the highest quality greenhouse products on the market and continuous improvement,” said Ed Beckman, Certified Greenhouse Farmers president. “For that, we’re thrilled to welcome Nature Fresh as our newest member.”

Nature Fresh Farms is the largest independent greenhouse produce grower in Canada and the largest greenhouse pepper grower in North America, growing on more than 150 acres. The company produces 84 varieties of peppers, 98 varieties of tomatoes, along with other vegetables such as cucumbers and eggplants.

Nature Fresh Farms demonstrates its commitment to sustainable growing through a variety of practices, including use of biomass fuels, a 90 per cent efficient water recirculation system with pasteurization, and other technologies – which save both energy and man-hours – developed for energy, light and plant health.

“While we’ve long had a commitment to the highest standards for greenhouse growing, we’re proud that our products will now carry the Certified Greenhouse seal, serving as a point of differentiation from other products on the market,” said Peter Quiring, founder and CEO of Nature Fresh Farms.

Certified Greenhouse Farmers’ mission is to protect the greenhouse growing process. Comprised of Houwelings Tomatoes, Nature Fresh Farms, Village Farms, Windset Farms and their farmer networks, the organization is the voice of certified greenhouse growers, and educates trade and consumer audiences about the value of certified greenhouse products.

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