A robotic loader that can take the manual labour out of placing greenhouse mini cucumbers onto trays is now available on the market. Developed by researchers at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) in partnership with CMP Automation of Ayr, the technology is part of ongoing efforts to reduce labour costs for farmers through […] Read more
Tag Archives greenhouse — page 3
Automated mini cucumber loader now on the market
Projects at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre reduce labour costs through automation
Greenhouse venture focuses on local
Tom Casteels is adding value to the family business with a new Caesar drink mix
Tom Casteels of Centreton, Ont. virtually grew up in a greenhouse, helping his father Alfons in the hydroponic-tomatoes business. Now that he’s buying it, he’s setting out to follow his own vision of creating a value-added product. Casteels considered making a salsa or tomato sauce, but decided so many of those already exist, so he […] Read more
Vegetable seedling grower, cannabis grower to merge
A B.C. company that raises seedlings for greenhouse vegetable growers is set to devote its existing square footage to weed, following a takeover by a B.C. cannabis grower and processor. Langley-based, publicly-traded Bevo Agro on Thursday announced a reverse takeover deal with Surrey-based, privately-held cannabis firm Sun Pharm Investments, which will see Sun Pharm shareholders […] Read more
Strawberry expansion proves to be good business decision
Mucci Farms identified many potential pitfalls to growing indoor strawberries, but two years later, it is looking at adding more
The owners of Mucci Farms saw many good reasons to stay away from expanding their Leamington-area greenhouse operation to grow strawberries. But as the company looks back on its 2015 decision to proceed anyway, following two years of acreage expansion and expected construction of a third 12-acre strawberry facility in 2018, those perceived obstacles have […] Read more
A new tomato for Ontario
A large project aims to create on-the-vine greenhouse tomatoes optimized for Ontario growing conditions and consumers
What do Ontarians like in a tomato? Some like a tough skin and viscous inside. Others like sweetness and softness. The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers gave the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre the challenge of figuring out what Ontarians prefer in a tomato-eating experience and then developing a tomato that fits that demand. Oh, and […] Read more
Aurora to buy Ontario’s MedReleaf in biggest-ever pot deal
Reuters — Aurora Cannabis will buy rival MedReleaf Corp. for $3.2 billion in the biggest deal yet to unify major Canadian pot growers, as the country moves toward legalizing marijuana for recreational use. The deal announced Monday is the latest in a wave of mergers in the industry as marijuana producers — emboldened by pot […] Read more
Ontario greenhouse growers get competitiveness fund
The Ontario government is putting $19 million into a new initiative to support the competitiveness of the greenhouse sector in the province. Provincial Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal announced the funding on Thursday at Link Greenhouse near Bowmanville, just east of Oshawa. The Greenhouse Competitiveness and Innovation Initiative aims to provide funding for the creation of […] Read more
Lake Erie plan’s farming recommendations released
A federal/provincial action plan to reduce phosphorus loading in Lake Erie has been released for public comment — and many of its recommendations will have implications for farmers in the Lake Erie basin. None of the numerous recommendations are particularly new or surprising and mostly call for using existing funding programs to encourage certain production […] Read more
B.C. pulls PST for farm telehandlers, skid steers
Qualifying farmers in British Columbia are now able to buy telehandlers, skid steers and polycarbonate greenhouse panels for farm use without paying the province’s seven per cent sales tax. The province on Thursday announced the additions, effective Feb. 17, to its list of goods, equipment and services for which eligible farmers are PST-exempt. Farmers wanting […] Read more
Tomato producer Mastronardi said seeking buyer
Reuters — Mastronardi Produce, an Ontario grower and distributor of hothouse tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, is exploring a sale it hopes could value it at as much as $900 million, including debt, according to people familiar with the matter. Privately-held Mastronardi has hired Bank of Montreal (BMO) to run an auction process, the people said […] Read more
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