Suntech Greenhouses was founded by Bob Mitchell in 1999, when the former dairy farmer, grain elevator operator and grower of cash crops, switched to a new challenge by breaking ground for his first 2.3 acre greenhouse operation. With the support of Farm Credit Canada he made the last expansion to what it is now a 4.1 acre greenhouse operation, that grows a diverse range of crops and takes care of its own marketing.
Ottawa grown
Bob Mitchell is running the business together with his wife Carmen. She explained that their business has become a well known name in Eastern Ontario. Every day they distribute a freshly picked harvest to a large number of local restaurants, supermarkets and small grocery and specialty stores."Consumers like our produce, we have become very popular among them and are a premium supplier of Ottawa grown produce. We think that they prefer our produce above others because of its flavour and freshness. As well as this the shelf life of the produce is much better, as it is not trucked all the way throughout the country."
Suntech grows a wide range of crops and breeds. "We have many tomato varieties; beefsteak, tomatoes on the vine, cherry and grape tomatoes and Flavorino gourmet plum tomatoes. As well as this we grow some eggplants, mini seedless cucumbers, sweet snacking peppers and green beans. We also have some bell peppers and other introduction varieties in small quantities," Mitchell explained.
Year-round
All of this is grown on gutter systems in advanced greenhouses with polyethylene covers. Suntech cultivates all of its crops hydroponically on coir substrate from Canadian supplier Millenniumsoils. "We’ve been using that brand for a number of years already. We are very happy with this growing substrate as it has a very consistent quality."
Bob Mitchell is responsible for the growing. He is the one with the green fingers who's in the greenhouse all day and busy with the crop and the technology. Bob and his staff just completed the crop change in December in one area of the greenhouse, and have been picking some tomatoes through the winter from another section that has LED lights among the crops. Carmen Mitchell explained. "It's kinda pioneering as there’s not enough research done yet on growing with LEDs. There’s still a lot to learn!”
Social media
The experiences from inside the greenhouse are shared by Suntech via social media frequently. They regularly post pictures and updates on their Facebook page, which provides a glimpse inside their operation.Click here for their Facebook page.
In this funny company video, Suntech's Mascotte tours around their greenhouse operation!
For more information:
Suntech Greenhouses Ltd.
www.suntech.ca
Millenniumsoils Coir
Dave Wilding
[email protected]
www.vgrove.com
