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Vine Fresh Acres, Leamington, Ontario, Canada

Cucumber grower Jake Neufeld of Vine Fresh Acres Ltd. in the 12.5 acre phase 1 greenhouse.
Cucumber grower Jake Neufeld of Vine Fresh Acres Ltd. in the 12.5 acre phase 1 greenhouse.
Vine Fresh Acres eventually has plans for a total acreage of 34 acres, solely dedicated to the production of high wire long English cucumbers for the Nature Fresh Farms brand.
Vine Fresh Acres eventually has plans for a total acreage of 34 acres, solely dedicated to the production of high wire long English cucumbers for the Nature Fresh Farms brand.
The entire greenhouse is outfitted with diffused glass.
The entire greenhouse is outfitted with diffused glass.
The HortiMaX FertiMiX irrigation pump set unit. All of the automation, irrigation and crop process control computers were supplied and installed by HortiMaX in partnership with its Acrobat Projects partner located in Ontario Canada
The HortiMaX FertiMiX irrigation pump set unit. All of the automation, irrigation and crop process control computers were supplied and installed by HortiMaX in partnership with its Acrobat Projects partner located in Ontario Canada
A VitaLite UV disinfection unit is used to clean the recirculation water in a sustainable manner as the regulations in Ontario becomes tighter.
A VitaLite UV disinfection unit is used to clean the recirculation water in a sustainable manner as the regulations in Ontario becomes tighter.
Vine Fresh Acres grows long English cucumbers. This is their first crop, and the variety grown is Rijk Zwaan’s Verdon. While the high wire growing system requires a bit more labour, Neufeld prefers it over the traditional umbrella system as the yield is higher and the quality of the cukes is phenomenal.
Vine Fresh Acres grows long English cucumbers. This is their first crop, and the variety grown is Rijk Zwaan’s Verdon. While the high wire growing system requires a bit more labour, Neufeld prefers it over the traditional umbrella system as the yield is higher and the quality of the cukes is phenomenal.
The workers are used to the crop work with the high wire system very well already.
The workers are used to the crop work with the high wire system very well already.
All workers are familiar with using the HortiMax productive labor management system. As the work at the greenhouse continues 7 days per week, it is a very efficient tool for Neufeld to register the productivity, even on days when there is no supervisor at the greenhouse.
All workers are familiar with using the HortiMax productive labor management system. As the work at the greenhouse continues 7 days per week, it is a very efficient tool for Neufeld to register the productivity, even on days when there is no supervisor at the greenhouse.
This is the heart of the ProDrain irrigation system from HortiMaX; a very keen and precise irrigation control system that allows the grower to optimise his watering and cultivation strategy. Between two posts, the entire gutter is standalone and measured / weighted by load cells that are integrated in the construction.
This is the heart of the ProDrain irrigation system from HortiMaX; a very keen and precise irrigation control system that allows the grower to optimise his watering and cultivation strategy. Between two posts, the entire gutter is standalone and measured / weighted by load cells that are integrated in the construction.
Between two posts, the entire gutter is standalone and measured / weighted by load cells that are integrated in the construction.
Between two posts, the entire gutter is standalone and measured / weighted by load cells that are integrated in the construction.
Also the crop wires between the two posts are stand alone and weighted by load cells. Incidental noise (from a crop worker) is filtered by the software in order to make the measurements as precise as possible.
Also the crop wires between the two posts are stand alone and weighted by load cells. Incidental noise (from a crop worker) is filtered by the software in order to make the measurements as precise as possible.
Irrigation shots measured by the ProDrain.
Irrigation shots measured by the ProDrain.
Neufeld works with the Synopta all-in-one software from HortiMax. On the right side he analyses the outcome from ProDrain.
Neufeld works with the Synopta all-in-one software from HortiMax. On the right side he analyses the outcome from ProDrain.
The cukes are all picked in these yellow plastic crates. The crates are stacked on to the trolleys and transported to the pack house.
The cukes are all picked in these yellow plastic crates. The crates are stacked on to the trolleys and transported to the pack house.
Inside the packing hall, a gigantic automatic packing line from Aletta (9.500 cukes/ hour) takes care of the rest; it destacks the crates with fresh cucumbers from the transport trolleys and brings them to the sorting line.
Inside the packing hall, a gigantic automatic packing line from Aletta (9.500 cukes/ hour) takes care of the rest; it destacks the crates with fresh cucumbers from the transport trolleys and brings them to the sorting line.
From there they eventually are packed in to boxes with our without sealed shrink wrap, before they are on their way to the customer! 15.
From there they eventually are packed in to boxes with our without sealed shrink wrap, before they are on their way to the customer! 15.
Currently, Vine Fresh Acres Ltd is already busy with the preparations for the expansion with phase II.
Currently, Vine Fresh Acres Ltd is already busy with the preparations for the expansion with phase II.
We would like to thank Vine Fresh Acres Ltd. and the team from HortiMaX North America for their hospitality: From left to right the team of HortiMaX at in front of the office in Leamington; Marcel Hazenbroek, Robert Rutgers, Silvester Arendse, Janice Rogers and Peter Yiannou.
We would like to thank Vine Fresh Acres Ltd. and the team from HortiMaX North America for their hospitality: From left to right the team of HortiMaX at in front of the office in Leamington; Marcel Hazenbroek, Robert Rutgers, Silvester Arendse, Janice Rogers and Peter Yiannou.