Less overall day light this season made for lower yields for Ontario's bell pepper growers, though the reduction in heat made for less problems due to rot.
“Yields are down about 10 percent,” said Nature Fresh Farms' President and Founder, Peter Quiring. “That was because we had less light this year, but it's been, more or less, an average year.” Though production continue for a few more weeks, the season is winding down. Quiring noted that though less light made for lighter yields, there was also less heat, which brought some advantages.
“Quality was pretty good, better than last year, because last year we had significant heat,” said Quiring. That heat brought problems with rot, but this year's crop had fewer issues with that. Prices have been holding steady, though Quiring noted a downward trend over the last decade due to increased competition from Mexico, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala, among others. His response to that competition this year, as in previous years, has been to bank on quality and freshness of product.
“We compete on freshness, quality, traceability, and those are things that other producers may not have,” said Quiring. “We can reach 250 million people in a day or two, where it would take them longer, so we can compete on freshness.”
For more information:
Nature Fresh Farms
+1 519 326 8603
info@naturefresh.ca