“We seeded our new Dublin, Pulaski County, Virginia, greenhouse facility just today with both organic and conventional tomatoes,” Jim DiMenna, president of JemD Farms, headquartered in Kingsville, ON, told The Produce News June 18. “And we recently held a job fair in that area. We received over 325 applications, which was outstanding. We expect to have over 200 local employees when all phases of the facility are completed in about four years. Our goal was to create local job opportunities for the community, and the job fair indicates that we won’t have a problem doing that.”

The Virginia facility is JemD Farms’ initiation into organic greenhouse production.

The company seeded both organic and conventional grape and cluster tomatoes in their separated zones at the new facility, which celebrated its groundbreaking on July 1 of last year. It is forecast to start movement there in late September to the first week of October. Although the facility is under the JemD Farms’ corporate umbrella, the facility and vegetables shipped from there will be under the “Red Sun Farms” name and label.

Also in celebration of Red Sun Farms’ inaugural organic production, the company previewed its new organic packaging at the United Fresh expo on June 10-13 in Chicago.

“We are working closely with our packaging partners to find the right look for our organic line,” explained DiMenna. “We are excited to be taking the first steps to be able to work with a recycled wood fiber board with a re-sealable, lidding film.”

Red Sun Farms is also working on the wood fiber look for some of its conventionally grown produce.

“We felt the decision to proceed with the combination of fiber trays and lidding film would be well aligned with today’s consumer,” DiMenna added. “The biodegradable fiber base greatly reduces our plastic consumption and clearly differentiates our organically grown tomatoes from our conventional lineup of hydroponic produce. We expect to roll out the new pack offering in time for our fall crop.”

Although the demand is strong and prices are holding for greenhouse vegetables, DiMenna strongly pointed out the major challenge that growers are now facing related to trucking and logistic prices and problems. (See story, page 76.)

“It’s always all about market conditions and supplies,” he said. “We had a good start to this season but higher prices could help to offset the outrageous trucking prices we face today. The good news for the greenhouse industry is that it’s a long season.”

JemD Farms has expanded its distribution at its McAllen, TX, facility, and expects to double its capacity there as of Sept. 1. Increased demand at McAllen and increased production at its Mexico operations has given the company a strong boost. It has also provided it with the opportunity to coordinate with other producers in Mexico.

“We’re in full volume production in Canada now,” said DiMenna. “The weather has been highly cooperative and we have great supplies of strong, healthy vegetables coming out of Canada.”

He also explained that one of two shoulder situations just finished. It ran from mid-March to April 1.

“These occur twice a year,” said DiMenna. “One is when our northern greenhouses are still in production, but Mexico is starting to come on. Although Mexico produces year round, it needs time for planting which reduces its volumes for short periods of time twice a year.

“The second occurs in the fall when Mexico is coming on and Canada is still shipping,” he continued. “These shoulder situations are a great time because volumes are strong, which provides customers with outstanding promotional opportunities. And the quality of the product is peak during these times.”

DiMenna noted that there are invariably several reasons demand for greenhouse production continues to increase .

“The weather affecting field production could have some effect on greenhouse demand, but the primary reasons for the consistent growth are that we can provide flavor, consistency, quality and year-round availability. These are all key factors. And, growing the best level and profile of varieties certainly doesn’t hurt.”