Dec. 2, 2015, Delta, OH Delta — The reality of locally grown tomatoes from Ohio in the heart of winter took a gigantic step forward last week.
NatureFresh Farms announced that the first tomato plants for its new high-tech 15-acre greenhouse here had been planted, highlighting the completion of the construction of Phase 1.
“This is a great day for NatureFresh to see the first tomato plants arrive here at our new greenhouse in Ohio,” said company president Peter Quiring.
In just over six months from the ground-breaking, NatureFresh built a state-of-the-art facility that will produce locally grown greenhouse tomatoes year-round.
This will be a first for the state of Ohio to have locally grown tomatoes 12 months a year.
“We will be heading into 2016 with 130 acres in Leamington, and 15 acres in Delta for a total of 145 acres under glass,” said Quiring.
Construction of NatureFresh’s Phase 2 of 30 acres has already begun and is expected to be completed by the middle of next summer.
NatureFresh Farms grows and markets an extensive variety of tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers.
“The demand for locally grown produce is increasing year over year,” said Ray Wowryk, director of business development.
“By reducing food miles and growing closer to home, consumers will have the opportunity starting in February to purchase Ohio grown tomatoes in the winter, which is a first.”
NatureFresh unveiled its OhioRed™ brand for its new Ohio-grown product recently at the PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta. The first crop of OhioRed Tomatoes is expected to be ready for picking in mid-February 2016.
“The increase in our acreage in Ohio will help us provide even more product to our key retail accounts in the mid-west and in Canada,” said Wowryk
ABOUT NATUREFRESH FARMS
Family owned NatureFresh Farms has grown to become one of the largest independent greenhouse vegetable growers in Canada, as well as one of the largest greenhouse pepper growers in North America.
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