Ontario beet growers differentiate by longevity in storage

“Over the last 10 years, demand for beets has really picked up. It’s continually building,” says Paul Smith of Smith Gardens Produce Inc. in Queensville, Ont. “I think a lot of people are recognizing that beets are a super food. Ten years ago we weren’t growing even five to seven acres. Now we’re growing near 25 acres and have more growth anticipated in future years. We’ll continue to grow of them and possibly dial back some other crops.”

This year’s beet season will likely begin harvest in the latter part of July, depending on if the province receives an adequate amount of rain. Smith also notes that a second round of plantings of beets will also happen shortly. “We put some early beets in and then some later ones to get the beginning of the market and the later part of the market,” he says.

While from a flavor perspective Ontario beets aren’t unusually distinct, what is different about Ontario beets is the storage factor. “A lot of growth areas are harvest-and-use while we have longevity in storage,” says Smith. “Our beets are grown in a muck-based soil that works. When beets grow in mineral-based soil, they get micro-abrasions and that leads to mold if they store too long. In our soil though, there are no micro-abrasions so they store a lot longer.” Smith notes that in storage, Ontario beets could last until March following a late summer harvest.

 

Yet while demand is pushed up for Ontario beets, pricing tends to remain steady. “It’s stable but not terrific. It’s predictable,” says Smith. “You don’t see as much fluctuation as you do with onions for example.”