This article appeared in The Packer’s March 30 issue in the Greenhouse Vegetables shipping profile and might not reflect current market conditions.
If consumers are putting renewed emphasis on nutritious eating during this trying time, greenhouse grower-shippers are willing and able to help.
Many hothouses have increased their volume as the spring/summer season gets underway, and all say they anticipate an extensive selection of high-quality vegetables.
“We have had a good winter season to date shipping all products from our family of growers,” said Chris Veillon, chief marketing officer for Pure Hothouse Foods Inc., Leamington, Ontario.
“With what is happening regarding COVID-19, the demand for greenhouse-grown vegetables is increasing steadily, week over week,” he said.
The company’s Pure Flavor brand has seen a spike in its social media traffic as well as in visits to its website from consumers looking for product and recipe information, he said.
The firm’s growers, located throughout Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, offer a wide range of products, consisting of dozens of organic and conventional tomatoes; several kinds of organic and conventional cucumbers and peppers, including new Craft House shishito peppers; and purple baby eggplants.
The Oppenheimer Group, Vancouver, British Columbia, still was sourcing some product out of Mexico in late March, but already had kicked off its British Columbia season, said Aaron Quon, director of greenhouse.
The company anticipates 20% more volume this year than last year.
Oppy’s British Columbia program started in February with cucumbers and began shipping new crop red, yellow and orange bell peppers in late March.
The company expanded its bell pepper deal last year, so there will be more production this season, he said.
Oppy also expanded its offerings of long English cucumbers from British Columbia.
“New and exciting this year” is a small area of mini sweet peppers planted in British Columbia, Quon said.
Organic cucumbers, tomatoes and bell peppers also will be available.
Quality out of British Columbia has been excellent so far, Quon said in late March.
“The plants are looking really good,” he said. “The fruit sets are really strong.”
The company’s organic and conventional bell peppers and mini sweet peppers out of Culiacan, Mexico, will be winding down by the end of May.
Like other greenhouse growers, Oppy is “seeing an increased level of demand” because of COVID-19, Quon said.
“We’re excited to get our crops going here because we’re getting a lot of requests for product,” he said.
Houweling’s Group, Camarillo, Calif., will have excellent greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers by the end of March from several locations and will have peppers ramping up in British Columbia in April, said David Bell, chief marketing officer.
The company’s product line includes premium grape tomatoes, premium cherry tomatoes-on-the-vine, cocktail tomatoes and tomatoes-on-the-vine.
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