Leamington, Ontario-based NatureFresh Farms broke ground on Phase I of its new 180-acre greenhouse facility in Delta, OH, in April 2015. The 15.30-acre project was completed in late fall of 2015.

Chris Veillon, director of marketing for NatureFresh Farms, said the first tomato plants went in to the greenhouse on Nov. 26, and harvesting began in mid-February.

“We broke ground on Phase II, also 15.30-acres, in January,” he added. “This will be completed this summer. Master development plans call for Phase III, another 15.30-acres, to break ground later this spring with completion in mid-fall 2016. In less than one year, NatureFresh Farms will have constructed 45 acres of high-tech greenhouses in Delta resulting in year-round production.”

The company continues to grow an extensive variety of gourmet tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers spread over its 130-acres in Leamington. It markets its greenhouse products under the “NatureFresh” brand.

NatureFresh Farms, Veillon pointed out, continues to build a strong online audience with active participation across all social media channels. A new website is in the works and will be launched in late March.

After a successful 2015 campaign with its mobile Greenhouse Education Center, or GEC, which was showcased in more than 60 events, NatureFresh Farms will be kicking off it’s 2016 #GreenInTheCity Tour with the center in late March.

“The tour calls for stops throughout the Midwest to the East Coast as well as throughout Ontario,” explained Veillon. “One of the key highlights on the tour will be taking part in the Indianapolis Public Schools Mega Field Day event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 25, in advance of the Indy 500. More than 20,000 students will be attending the event and the GEC is considered one of the main attractions for the day.”

NatureFresh Farms is adding to its staff to keep up with the increased demand for its products. Veillon announced three new hires.

“Bob Jajkowski joined us in late summer 2015 as general sales manager,” he said. “Kara Badder also joined us in late summer last year and is our new marketing coordinator. In February, also in the position of marketing coordinator, Jessica Chavez joined our staff.”

The company has also taken a different spin on hiring new staff to support the #GreenInTheCity Tour. It has created a customer website titled Travel. Educate. #Grow. The website, WeAreTheGrower.com, was created to attract college and university students who are studying agri-science and agri-business to use their higher level education to help raise awareness for greenhouse grown produce.

“Students from all over North America are being encouraged to apply for these highly coveted summer jobs,” added Veillon.

The company’s “NatureFresh” products include a wide assortment of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, including all of the leading specialty items.

“We also grow red, yellow, orange and green organic peppers in Leamington,” Veillon noted. “NatureFresh Farms has doubled its organic acreage for 2016. We will have other organically grown greenhouse items available in the future.”