Nature Fresh Introduces Indoor Organic Strawberries

Nature Fresh Farms, one of the larger vertically integrated leaders in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) in North America, has added greenhouse-grown organic strawberries to its product lineup, which also features tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.

“As the first grower and supplier of organic greenhouse-grown strawberries in North America, we want to ensure that retailers are aware that we are here to fill the gap in supply that is typical during the fall/winter months when field berries are in shorter supply,” said Matt Quiring, Nature Fresh's senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Matt Quiring, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Nature Fresh Farms

The family-owned and operated company, headquartered in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, prides itself on its vertically integrated business model. “We build our own greenhouses, grow our own produce, and market produce of our partner growers,” Quiring said. “We understand that we play a pivotal role in how people nourish themselves, which is why we are committed to advancing greenhouse innovation and sustainable food security to provide healthy, quality, environmentally friendly produce.”

“As the first grower and supplier of organic greenhouse-grown strawberries in North America, we want to ensure that retailers are aware that we are here to fill the gap in supply that is typical during the fall/winter months when field berries are in shorter supply.” - Matt Quiring

Quiring said the organic strawberry project is the result of listening to its customers’ challenges and lending support where it is needed. “With ongoing weather and water challenges that are impacting field growers, causing inconsistent and unreliable supply, our organic greenhouse-grown strawberries provide peak supply while field grown is struggling most,” he said. “We’re also able to provide the consumer with a fresher berry that is selected for taste and experience rather than shelf life and shippability.”

The organic Greenhouse Berries, which is the firm’s trademarked brand, are being grown in Nature Fresh’s Delta, Ohio facilities in a newly built 45-acre strawberry expansion. The greenhouse is scheduled to provide a continuous supply of organic strawberries from October to July, which are being marketed to retailers throughout North America.

The company’s CEA growing practices require approximately 70 percent less water for strawberry crop growth and offer to increased crop cleanliness and produce closer to market production when compared to field-grown berries.

“Though expansion is never out of the question, at this time we are focused on ensuring that the growing operations and production of our newly built 45-acre strawberry facility is running at optimal performance before we look into expanding our berry operations elsewhere for the time being,” Quiring said. “As we move forward, we will assess geographical range, supply and demand, costing, etc. to determine if, when, and where additional expansions will take place.”

“With ongoing weather and water challenges that are impacting field growers causing inconsistent and unreliable supply, our organic greenhouse-grown strawberries provide peak supply while field grown is struggling most.” - Matt Quiring

The company believes greenhouse-grown berries are the future, which includes organics. “With greenhouses, we don’t face the challenges faced by field farmers, such as inclement weather, drought, fire, overspray from neighboring farms, etc.,” Quiring said. “Greenhouse farmers are able to provide a more favorable crop that is consistent in flavor, freshness, quality, and availability.”

It is this unwavering belief that greenhouse production offers a superior product that is Nature Fresh’s value proposition. “Our focus is to elevate, enhance, and evolve the categories we support—and this includes strawberries,” he said. “Through greenhouse innovation, we have the ability to provide the market with higher-flavor, higher-quality produce; while doing so sustainability and with long-term food security in mind.”