Earlier this year, an article was published about the expansion plans of Nature Fresh Farms into the organic greenhouse strawberry category in Ohio. The company is on track to begin planting this summer, with the first harvest occurring in the Fall. The season will run from October until July, resulting in 10-month availability.
“When our harvest starts this Fall, we will be the only organic greenhouse grower of strawberries in North America,” says Matt Quiring, SVP of Sales & Marketing at Nature Fresh Farms. “This will allow us to position ourselves to fill the need in supply when field growers are unable to. At the same time, field growers will have products available during our off-season in August and September. This will provide retailers with an opportunity to keep organic strawberries on their shelves year-round.”
How are organic greenhouse-grown strawberries different from their field-grown counterparts? “We don’t have the challenges that field farmers are facing,” commented Quiring. He referred to weather conditions such as excess rain and drought but also overspray from neighboring farms. “Since greenhouses have more control over their environment, we are able to provide a cleaner crop that is consistent in flavor, freshness, size, quality, and availability. Another benefit of growing in a controlled environment is the ability to grow in a more sustainable way. “This includes the reduction of water requirements for crop growth by approximately 70 percent.” A reduced carbon footprint is another example. The Ohio greenhouses are located near major consumption areas, which helps reduce travel miles and offers consumers a product that’s grown closer to the market.
What has driven Nature Fresh Farms to expand into organic strawberries? “We’ve seen increases across the organic category for a few years,” Quiring said. “Higher income customers especially tend to gravitate towards organic options. This is partly driven by conventional (straw)berries often being labeled as part of the ‘dirty dozen,’ a list of 12 non-organic fruit and vegetable varieties that are highest in pesticide residues. Offering an organic alternative gives consumers peace of mind and contributes to this lift in organic berry sales.”
For more information:
Krysta Markham
Nature Fresh Farms
Tel.: (+1) 519-326-1111
Krysta.markham@naturefresh.ca
www.naturefresh.ca