Fresh All Year: The Power of Ontario Greenhouse Vegetables

Many consumers think of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers as a summer luxury, but Ontario greenhouses have changed that. These vegetables are now available year-round and are of optimal quality at any season. These greenhouse vegetables are harvested at peak ripeness, not picked early to account for long shipping times. This means better flavour, higher nutritional value, and consistent availability throughout the year. 

Climate controlled greenhouses have made ‘seasonal availability’ a thing of the past. This means access to nutritious and delicious Ontario grown peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers all year round.

Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers have developed an innovative way to produce vegetables year-round. Even during the depths of Ontario winters, advanced greenhouse technology provides a well controlled environment and efficient growing system allowing for vegetables that we once considered seasonal, to be available all year. 

Ontario greenhouses adhere to strict government regulations to ensure their products are of the highest quality. These greenhouses are designed to maintain optimal temperatures for the crops, regardless of the temperature outside. Consistent temperatures inside minimizes stress on the plants, keeping them healthy, and minimizing crop loss and food waste.

Growing vegetables indoors is also a naturally efficient way to deal with pests. While the structure of the greenhouse acts as a natural barrier, there is still the risk of pests, and disease finding their way in. Greenhouses in Ontario are on the lookout for pests before they become a problem, and use ladybugs and other beneficial insects to protect against pests without relying heavily on chemical sprays. 

The benefits of supporting local

There’s no better feeling than supporting local Ontario growers, and knowing exactly where your food comes from. Supporting local farms has more benefits than just keeping money in the community. By purchasing locally grown produce you allow for more jobs (35,000 are directly employed thanks to Ontario vegetable greenhouses), encourage a stronger food security system, and support a more sustainable agricultural system.

Locally grown food is better for the planet, and improves the quality of the food. Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers span 4100 acres across mostly Southern Ontario – from Windsor to Niagara, and some as north as Ottawa. Locally grown food is more nutritious and tastes fresher than food grown elsewhere. It is harvested, and has a short travel time to get to your table. The quality, taste, and nutritional value of produce starts to decline the moment it is harvested. If purchasing food from out of the province or country, it has a long travel time from harvest to the grocery store, and is no longer at peak quality. 

The sweet bell pepper is the most commonly grown pepper variety. You’ll see green, yellow, orange and red, which signifies the length of ripening time on the vine. With green being the least flavourful, ripe and nutritious, and red being the most. Bell peppers are rich in vitamin C, offering more of this nutrient than an orange. Bell peppers are delicious raw or cooked in an endless number of ways.

Here are some pepper recipes to try:

Greenhouse cucumbers are not pollinated, and therefore are seedless, which may make digestion easier for some people. Cucumbers are 90% water, making them refreshing and low calorie. Due to their high water content, they are typically consumed raw, but are versatile and pair well with many different flavour combinations.

Here are some cucumber recipes to try:

Greenhouse tomatoes are packed with micronutrients, and antioxidants. They’re incredibly versatile, and can be added to almost any dish to pump up the nutrition and add a pop of colour. When purchasing tomatoes, look for ones that are round, feel heavy for their size, and have taut skin. Avoid anything that is bruised, shrivelled or mealy.

Here are some tomato recipes to try:

Ontario Greenhouses are changing the produce game by growing nutritious vegetables in an innovative and sustainable way. Peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes are now available, and are at peak quality, year round, thanks to Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers. Look for ‘Ontario grown’ labels at the grocery store to ensure you’re supporting local farmers and locally grown, fresh vegetables.