Canada: Ontario greenhouses keep growing
According to George Gilvesy, general manager for Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG), a not-for-profit organization that represents the region's greenhouse growers, the total acreage for the region has increased by 353 acres between January of 2011 to January of 2013. That expansion has come in response to increasing demand from both the Canadian and U.S. markets.
“The market is growing because of healthy living,” said Gilvesy. “People, in general, are eating more produce, and it seems they're conscientious of living a healthy lifestyle.” That bodes well for the region's greenhouse growers who produce tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. OGVG represents the region's 224 growers, and Gilvesy expects total acreage, which currently stands at 2,272 acres, to continue to increase as demand grows and production shifts from open-field growing to greenhouse production.
“At the retail level, there's been a conversion in preference from open-field,” said Gilvesy. Some of that change is owed to retailers who prefer the consistent supply of greenhouse produce, which is less prone to suffer setbacks from the vagaries of the weather. Ontario's growers, in particular, are likely to expand production with rising demand because of the favorable conditions of the area.
“There are very good climatic conditions for greenhouse vegetables here,” said Gilvesy. “Ontario has the most sunlight hours in all of Canada.” Because of that, and rising demand, he added that the future looks bright for Ontario's growers.
“We're cautiously optimistic that we'll continue to see more opportunities as people change their diets,” said Gilvesy. “So we'll continue the drive to improve lifestyles and eating habits that are leading to a bigger demand for vegetables.”
For more information, please visit: www.ontariogreenhouse.com