In Their Words: Raymond Wong, OriginO Farms

OriginO was one of the first companies to produce organic greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers in British Columbia. OPN had the opportunity to speak with OriginO founder Raymond Wong about his history in organic fresh produce and thoughts on the future of organics.

OriginO founder Raymond Wong

OPN Connect: OriginO was founded in 1997, when you began growing greenhouse vegetables for North America. Describe your journey to becoming 100 percent  certified organic ten years later.

RW: “My school thesis was in the utilization of compost in greenhouses and I always thought about doing organic production in greenhouses.

I began conventional greenhouse production in 1997 and was always doing research. I wanted to invent a liquid organic fertilizer to use in a high-tech organic greenhouse system.

In 2001 Oppenheimer began handling our sales and in 2005 we transitioned some of our acreage. By 2007 we were 100 percent organic in all of our greenhouses.

In 2005 the market was growing, and we thought there was no limit. At peak production in 2008 our total area was up to 43 acres, with three locations in Canada and in California. 

Then the economic crisis of 2008 hit, and we had to re-strategize the business model and reinvent ourselves. The market wasn’t there, and our technology hadn’t yet been perfected.

In 2009 we had to scale to back to just 5 acres.

In the greenhouse industry,  once you start you cannot stop, you can’t cut costs, you can’t just turn down the heat.

We learned a lot about pest control, irrigation, nutritional delivery with slow release of organic fertilizers.

We did a lot of R&D with liquid organic fertilizers, but it never worked, so we had to think back to the basics.  In organics, you have to rely on the soil and you have to use more solid base and less liquids.

We had to reinvent the philosophy of organic greenhouse production and in 2010 figured out how to do it.

From 2010 we were in a steady state and we built the company to what is today.”

OPN Connect: You currently have two greenhouses located in Langley and Delta, BC, which consist of 23 acres of farming land. What makes production in Canada so unique?

RW: “In our areas in BC we have a mild climate, perfect for greenhouses. Being in Canada we still have a winter so that alleviates pest pressure.

With that mild climate we get good quality production from March to November.  

OriginO Greenhouse

My goal is to have winter production, and I plan to expand again into California."

OPN Connect: OriginO is committed to innovation and sustainability. How you put this into practice on a daily basis.

RW: “My philosophy is all about balance. There will never be an absolute situation in the greenhouse when it’s free of pest and disease. There is always something there.

The best way to manage is through balance. We control pests through an eco-system where we put the good bugs in with the bad bugs to control the populations.

Most greenhouses wait until the pests come and then they do something to eradicate them, that’s too late for an organic farmer.

We grow completely above ground and don’t use any containers. Instead we have big wind-row piles of soil. We make the soil right on the farm. It can be reused for two years and then can be utilized for potting soil.

The amount of soil we use is almost the same as native ground production.

By developing an organic growing system, we feed the microbes in the soil and they in turn feed the plants. We are a big believer of soil based growing.”

OPN Connect: As a leader in organic greenhouse production, how do you weigh in on the soil only debate the organic community is having?

RW: “What we do is unique, there is a lot of debate about organic container systems and we are sort of in between the two.

With all the capital expenditures in a greenhouse environment you have to have an intensive growing system. Relying solely on native soil isn’t sustainable in a greenhouse environment.

OriginO founder Raymond Wong

Native soil isn’t meant to be used in intensive farming; it’s supposed to have crop rotations etc. If you want to do organic in a greenhouse, you need a sustainable production system and my system is the best of both worlds.

We use soil that can be reused, but we are not relying on native in-ground soil for our production.

I’m sort of in between the systems of native soil and hydroponic container production.”

OPN Connect: In your mind what are the biggest opportunities for the organic industry?

RW: “I think the skies the limit right now as organic is no longer hype. It’s a lifestyle and the younger generations are supporting the organic movement.  They believe it’s sustainable and environmental, so the future is tremendous!”     

OPN Connect: Why is it important for OriginO to be at this year’s Organic Produce Summit?

RW: “This summit has become one of THE destinations for the organic industry. It’s important to talk to the retailers and display our products and let them know how unique we are.

We were one of the pioneers in organic greenhouses, but we didn’t grow as fast as some of the others, so we want people to know we are still around!"