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Truly Green, Ontario, Canada

Truly Green’s Hilco Tamminga in the phase 1 glasshouse which is 22 acres.
Truly Green’s Hilco Tamminga in the phase 1 glasshouse which is 22 acres.
The greenhouse is located at Bloomfield Road in Chatham-Kent. The warehouse on the left houses all the CO2 and heat distribution technology.
The greenhouse is located at Bloomfield Road in Chatham-Kent. The warehouse on the left houses all the CO2 and heat distribution technology.
The nearby GreenField Specialty Alcohols facility on the adjacent side of the road.
The nearby GreenField Specialty Alcohols facility on the adjacent side of the road.
This is the second crop at Truly Green, which was planted last winter. The crop is Rijk Zwaan’s TOV Endeavour.
This is the second crop at Truly Green, which was planted last winter. The crop is Rijk Zwaan’s TOV Endeavour.
The packing facility gives place to six weighing stations. The line was designed and installed by Viscon.
The packing facility gives place to six weighing stations. The line was designed and installed by Viscon.
When you enter Truly Green’s glasshouse, the tidiness catches your attention immediately. Everything is cleaned up and organized very well.
When you enter Truly Green’s glasshouse, the tidiness catches your attention immediately. Everything is cleaned up and organized very well.
Truly Green grows all of their tomatoes for Sunset Mastronardi Produce.
Truly Green grows all of their tomatoes for Sunset Mastronardi Produce.
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These sticker machines are able to sticker each single tomato before they are shipped to the customers.
These sticker machines are able to sticker each single tomato before they are shipped to the customers.
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The offices, canteens and facilities are all housed inside a building that is built inside an immense corridor, similar to the most recently build glasshouses in Holland.
The offices, canteens and facilities are all housed inside a building that is built inside an immense corridor, similar to the most recently build glasshouses in Holland.
Besides the tomatoes on the vine, also the snack tomato Angel Sweet is grown.
Besides the tomatoes on the vine, also the snack tomato Angel Sweet is grown.
An automated palletizer prepares the shipment safely.
An automated palletizer prepares the shipment safely.
This truck is waiting until it is loaded. Most of the time, the fresh harvest is directly prepared and loaded into a truck that is already waiting. This guarantees a fresh delivery!
This truck is waiting until it is loaded. Most of the time, the fresh harvest is directly prepared and loaded into a truck that is already waiting. This guarantees a fresh delivery!
A robot prepares empty harvest trolleys by pushing a new batch with empty harvesting boxes on them.
A robot prepares empty harvest trolleys by pushing a new batch with empty harvesting boxes on them.
In order to protect the tomatoes for a bumpy ride, each box is prepared with a piece of foam that comes from this roll. It is automatically being cut by a machine.
In order to protect the tomatoes for a bumpy ride, each box is prepared with a piece of foam that comes from this roll. It is automatically being cut by a machine.
The trains with empty carts are transported with an induction line guided M-Track internal transport system.
The trains with empty carts are transported with an induction line guided M-Track internal transport system.
The entire greenhouse operation is managed with a Priva system. Priva FS Performance is used for the labour registration and crop work.
The entire greenhouse operation is managed with a Priva system. Priva FS Performance is used for the labour registration and crop work.
Inside the 22 acre glasshouse, two of these restrooms can be found. This also delivers savings in labour costs, as workers do not have to go back to the beginning of the greenhouse anymore.
Inside the 22 acre glasshouse, two of these restrooms can be found. This also delivers savings in labour costs, as workers do not have to go back to the beginning of the greenhouse anymore.
This is a smart invention by Truly Green’s Gerard Atkinson; every three poles there is a tap that provides KleenGrow disinfectant.
This is a smart invention by Truly Green’s Gerard Atkinson; every three poles there is a tap that provides KleenGrow disinfectant.
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Tamminga is very happy with Endeavor as a variety; it provides them a heavy fruitweight (150-160grams!) and beautiful uniform settings, even under hot conditions.
Tamminga is very happy with Endeavor as a variety; it provides them a heavy fruitweight (150-160grams!) and beautiful uniform settings, even under hot conditions.
Endeavour is one of the few varieties that withstands and pulls through the hot Ontario summers and maintains a good vigour to the end of the season. The crops are grafted on RZ Stallone and Kaiser rootstocks.
Endeavour is one of the few varieties that withstands and pulls through the hot Ontario summers and maintains a good vigour to the end of the season. The crops are grafted on RZ Stallone and Kaiser rootstocks.
Besides a large group of local workers, also many workers from Thailand work at Truly Green.
Besides a large group of local workers, also many workers from Thailand work at Truly Green.
This gentleman is one of the fastest tomato pickers in Chatham-Kent.
This gentleman is one of the fastest tomato pickers in Chatham-Kent.
The employees are also trained to scout and identify pests and diseases.
The employees are also trained to scout and identify pests and diseases.
Botrytis and wounds are treated with a special biological paste.
Botrytis and wounds are treated with a special biological paste.
While Truly Green runs a standard cropping season without interplanting, they do conduct some research to the alternative cropping schedules.
While Truly Green runs a standard cropping season without interplanting, they do conduct some research to the alternative cropping schedules.
The irrigation and day stocks. In the back you can see the door that will connect phase 2 to the packing house.
The irrigation and day stocks. In the back you can see the door that will connect phase 2 to the packing house.
This is the heart of Truly Green; the boiler room, where the connection with Greenfields enters. Right now there are also two natural gas boilers, but as we speak, an additional two boilers are installed.
This is the heart of Truly Green; the boiler room, where the connection with Greenfields enters. Right now there are also two natural gas boilers, but as we speak, an additional two boilers are installed.
This 4.5 million litre buffer / heat storage tank makes the energy supply and demand more flexible. It allows Truly Green to have heating available at night as well.
This 4.5 million litre buffer / heat storage tank makes the energy supply and demand more flexible. It allows Truly Green to have heating available at night as well.
This is the CO2 infrastructure; the pipe above is the main supply that comes from Greenfields. As this is very pure CO2, it is enough for 4 times 22 acres of greenhouses. Truly Green needs to dilute the CO2 before they can apply it in their operations.
This is the CO2 infrastructure; the pipe above is the main supply that comes from Greenfields. As this is very pure CO2, it is enough for 4 times 22 acres of greenhouses. Truly Green needs to dilute the CO2 before they can apply it in their operations.
These are the other two CO2 connections that are already prepared for phase 3 and 4.
These are the other two CO2 connections that are already prepared for phase 3 and 4.
The work for phase two has already been started. The first crop is scheduled to be planted on December 1, 2015.
The work for phase two has already been started. The first crop is scheduled to be planted on December 1, 2015.
We wish Truly Green all the best with the expansion of their greenhouse and would like to thank them for touring us!
We wish Truly Green all the best with the expansion of their greenhouse and would like to thank them for touring us!