This past weekend, Leamington Ontario hosted its 11th annual Greenhouse Vegetable competition at the Leamington Fair. The competition showcases some of the largest greenhouse growers in North America, and awards their produce through various categories including Hottest Tomato, Perfect Pepper and Coolest Cucumber.
Mucci Farms
Mucci Farms received several top prices with the big winner being SmucciesTM Sweet Strawberries that swept the all new strawberry category with the Best Overall Strawberry, People’s Choice and Kid’s Choice awards. In addition, their newest item, CutecumberTM Poppers, a one-bite cucumber variety was awarded the People’s Choice award in the cucumber category. To cap off the weekend, RusticoTM Long Red Peppers, an item geared for grilling season took home the award for best Specialty Long Pepper along with English Cucumbers winning the Coolest Cucumber category.
Mucci Farms' Ajit Saxena flanked by two officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
New to the competition this year was the highly anticipated Strawberry category, one gaining lots of notoriety in the greenhouse space in recent years. “Smuccies are a prized possession for us, so it’s really special to win three awards in the category in the inaugural year,” said Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing at Mucci Farms. “At Mucci Farms, we prioritize flavour right from the first step which is to identify the best seed varieties, followed by the best and safest growing methods. We’re grateful to the judges and the local community for recognizing our team and our growers for all the work they’ve put in.”
NatureFresh Farms
NatureFresh™ Farms took home awards in the following categories:
- People’s Choice Award for Hottest Tomato – NatureFresh™ Tomberry® Tomatoes.
- Kids’ Choice Award for Hottest Tomato - NatureFresh™ Tomberry® Tomatoes.
- Kids’ Choice Award for Coolest Cucumber – NatureFresh™ Mini Cucumbers.
- Kids’ Choice Award for Perfect Pepper – NatureFresh™ Yellow Bell Pepper.
Matt Quiring with NatureFresh Farms proudly shows the rewards
Matt Quiring, Executive Retail Sales Accounts Manager at NatureFresh™ Farms, was especially excited that NatureFresh™ took home the coveted Kids’ Choice Awards in the Tomato, Bell Pepper, and Cucumber categories: “The People’s Choice and Kids’ Choice Awards are such impactful awards to win because they have everything to do with the end consumer. They’re also incredibly important because children are the buyers of tomorrow – knowing that they choose NatureFresh™-grown products above every other label is a huge testament to what we do and what’s in store for the future.”
Red Sun Farms
Red Sun Farms is proud to announce that it has taken the awards for:
- 1st place Best Hothouse Mini Seedless Cucumbers- Red Sun Farms Mini Cucumbers.
- 2nd place Best Hothouse Cluster tomato- Red Sun Farms Specialty Tomatoes on the Vine.
- 1st place Best Hothouse Roma Tomatoes- Red Sun Farms Roma Tomatoes.
- 1st place Best Hothouse Specialty Tomato- Red Sun Farms Gourmet Cherry on the Vine.
“These awards solidify what we already knew, in that we have some of best products available on the market. The recognition of our produce is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team here at Red Sun,” Carlos Visconti, CEO Canada and United States Operations.
Costin Beliciu and Leona Neill with Red Sun Farms
The Greenhouse Competition is presented at the Leamington Fair by REACH International to celebrate Essex County as being the largest greenhouse industry in North America. All net proceeds from the event are dedicated to REACH International's Uganda project aimed at building schools, clinics and providing care for impoverished children in the African country.