A new chapter in greenhouse agriculture is beginning with the opening of KingsOne Farms in Kingsville, Ontario. Spearheaded by Cole Mucci, a third-generation grower from the Mucci family, this venture will focus on producing clean, nutritious, and flavorful lettuce using cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices.
"Greenhouse farming is in my blood," says (Cole) Mucci. "Both of my grandfathers were growers who came to Canada from Italy. My dad, Bert, along with my uncle Danny and their partners, built Mucci Farms into what it is today. I'm proud to carry on that legacy."
This venture will focus on producing clean, nutritious, and flavorful lettuce using cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices.
Mucci chose lettuce as the focus of KingsOne Farms because of its potential and importance to consumers. "Here in Canada, over 80 percent of our lettuce is imported from the United States so there's tremendous opportunity in this space, especially when it's sustainably grown with a premium emphasis on cleanliness. We can provide high-quality product 365 days a year," he says.
KingsOne Farms will be a 6.5-acre facility, with production slated to begin in fall 2025. The greenhouse will be designed with cutting-edge technology and automation to maximize efficiency and production. The operation will produce nearly 210,000 heads of lettuce each week, totaling nearly 11 million heads annually.
"What excites me most about this project is the advanced technology we've built into the facility," says Mucci. "It's almost fully automated, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to lettuce. This is about growing healthy food in a way that sustains the future. I'm just getting started and have big plans for what's next for leafy greens and agriculture technology."
Right: Cole Mucci
His goals for the company go beyond production numbers. "My aim is to grow lettuce that's clean, nutritious, and tastes great," he says. "I want people to feel confident that the food they're eating is safe and good for them."
With expansion plans already on the horizon, KingsOne Farms aims to set new standards in sustainable agriculture while contributing to the local and North American markets with fresh, high-quality produce.
Timeline:
- Planting begins: Fall 2025
- First harvest: Fall 2025
- Initial capacity: 6.5 acres producing nearly 11 million heads of lettuce annually
- Future plans: Expansion and integration of new agricultural technologies
- Marketing: All product will be packed under the Mucci Farms brand
Before this initiative, Mucci most recently served as the bell pepper operations manager at Mucci Farms.
For more information:
Ajit Saxena
Mucci Farms
Tel: (+1) 519-326-8881
[email protected]
www.muccifarms.com