With intemperate weather depressing on-the-vine tomato production in Florida and Mexico, and California suffering from continuing water shortages, one Ontario greenhouse grower has found itself facing “perfect” conditions in its first winter season of a new, year-round TOV program.
“The program has exceeded our expectations this year for sure,” says Mitchell Amicone of AMCO Produce, a Leamington, ON, greenhouse grower. According to Amicone, expectations for AMCO’s year-round TOV program were already high going into the season. But with winter TOV shortages in each of Canada’s biggest tomato import regions, Amicone calls this season “pretty much the perfect year to have homegrown Canadian TOV’s.”
AMCO’s new program began this year after the company retrofitted one of its ranges to accommodate high pressure sodium (HPS) lighting. While lighting and heating costs make production much more expensive in winter months, AMCO’s crop has responded well to the HPS system, with production currently outpacing summer numbers. Says Amicone, “The lights have been showing great results on crop production.”
Amicone, whose company primarily serves local markets in the Toronto and Quebec areas, says that demand has been strong for his company’s TOV’s this winter. The increase in demand has been fuelled by highly favourable pricing, with prices on Canadian greenhouse crop and Mexican imports “close to par.”
While Amicone expects the market next winter to be more stable – and, as a result, less favorable to Canadian product – his team has seen strong enough returns that they are currently planning “Phase Two” of their program, which would expand AMCO’s year-round program to include other tomato varieties.
For more information:
Mitchell Amicone
AMCO Produce
Tel: +1 (519) 326-9095