ISHS Acta Horticulturae 481: International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics
STATUS OF THE GREENHOUSE VEGETABLE INDUSTRY AND HYDROPONICS IN ONTARIO, CANADA |
| Author: | S. Khosla |
| Abstract:
The Ontario greenhouse industry has undergone many changes since the early 90's to meet the challenges of the marketplace. The North American consumer's demand for high quality greenhouse vegetables year round has increased as has the importation of greenhouse produce from Europe. The need to improve efficiencies to maintain a viable industry has forced many of the changes. This is a $120 million farm gate value industry generated from 232 ha (574 acres)(Fig 1&2). Over the past two years the area devoted to greenhouse vegetable production has been increasing at an annual rate of 20%. As well, the present ongoing construction will result in doubling the area of greenhouse vegetables in Ontario since 1990. The majority of this increase has occurred in the Leamington area (DISTRICT #1) which has the highest concentration of greenhouse vegetables in North America. There has been some expansion in the rest of the province mainly in the Simcoe-Niagara area. The area devoted to tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers has changed (Fig 3). Most of the new construction is devoted to the production of tomatoes (beefsteak tomatoes with some cluster or tomato-on-the-vine (TOV)). The change from the pink skinned tomato cultivar to the red skinned ones has opened the marketplace. The greater demand for the red greenhouse tomato has allowed for the increase in the tomato production area. Changes to the greenhouse design has also improved efficiencies and decreased cost of construction. The double poly-ethylene gutter vented structures are the greenhouse design of choice. A gutter height of 14 – 16 ft. is standard in all new construction. The gutter vents and the higher gutter height has decreased the need to use fans to cool the greenhouses decreasing the cost of construction and operation. The greenhouse climate in all new greenhouse operations is controlled by the use of climate control computers. There has been a steady increase in the number of hot water heating systems installed (Fig 4). All new greenhouse operations are growing crops in hydroponic/soilless culture. Rockwool is the media of choice with some nutrient film technique (NFT) and foam systems being used (Fig 5). Integrated pest management (IPM) is used by the majority of the greenhouse operations. All tomato growers use biological control agents for pest management and bumble bees (extremely sensitive to pesticides) are used as pollination agents. Cucumber and pepper growers use biological control agents during the winter months when pest pressures are lower. Later in the summer when the vents are open and pest pressures are high some growers resort to using pesticides as they are unable to use biological control agents successfully. Marketing of the greenhouse vegetables is conducted by sales representatives of the various packing houses, shippers, brokers and grower/shippers. The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Producers Marketing Board is a grower organization whose mandate is to represent the growers, advertise at the market place and help develop markets and support research. Approximately 50% of the tomato production, 25% cucumber and 50% of peppers are geared for export to Quebec and Eastern and Central United States. The Ontario grower has adapted to meet the challenges and needs to continue to do so as to meet the demands of the marketplace. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
