Red Sun Farms, headquartered in Kingsville, ON, now has U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organically grown product available from its greenhouses in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The company offers a complete in-store ready display kit for those interested in the organic series line.

Red Sun offers organic and conventional product.“We are the only greenhouse grower in North America that controls the entire growing process; from seed selection, to propagation, harvest, transportation and delivery to your store,” said Jim DiMenna, president of Red Sun Farms. “The organic line, as our conventional line, is now available year-round from our greenhouses in Ontario, Virginia and La Piedad, Mexico.”

Red Sun Farms’ products are distributed throughout all North American Free Trade Agreement countries.

The past several years have been packed full of changes, growth and expansions for Red Sun Farms. The company began its head office expansion project in June.

“We are expanding our operations in all three countries,” added DiMenna. “These expansions include office and greenhouse facilities in order to keep pace with our growth.”

Red Sun Farm continues to promote PTI compliance, food safety initiatives and sustainability initiatives. And its new sustainable organic grape tomato packaging is testament to its commitment to the environment.

“This new packaging has generated an overwhelming demand,” said DiMenna. “With fully compostable, recyclable and biodegradable bases, and a re-sealable top seal that uses a 90 percent reduction on plastic, we’re proud to do our part to keep our planet —and their customers — healthy.”

He explained that the “Earthcycle” base of the package is made from a blend of only North American-sourced virgin and recycled wood pulp. It is certified compostable to Biodegradable Products Institute standards, and is produced on the east coast of Canada.

“The new pack style satisfies consumers’ desire for less plastic reduced waste to landfill, increased use of renewable resources and local production versus off shore,” DiMenna pointed out. “In 2012, the U.S. recycled 76.1 percent of all paper and paperboard packaging generated. In the same year, the U.S. recycled 13.8 percent of all plastic packaging generated. ‘Earthcycle’ trays can be composted or included in the waste paper recycling stream, with newspapers and paperboard packaging.”

This July, Red Sun Farms is converting the majority of its Artisan Series to the sleek top seal look. And it has a new look for its “Chef’s Collection” and “Scarlet Pearl” grape tomatoes. Retailers now have the option to have these items in a top seal format.

Harold Paivarinta, director of sales and business development for Red Sun Farms explained that new greenhouse technology is cutting edge.

“That translates to higher yields which will have a significant effect on current markets,” he said. “Market saturations will be very challenging for many existing companies, but especially difficult for those with aging, energy inefficient farm operations. The speed in which this greenhouse expansion takes place will dictate how quickly older farms come off-line because they won’t be able to compete on a cost of production basis.

“Greenhouse technology evolves so quickly that farms built today are significantly less expensive to operate than others constructed just 10 years ago,” added Paivarinta.