 Do you love delicious local food that has also grown sustainably? Ontario Greenhouse vegetable growers invest in state-of-the-art innovations to sustainably grow and deliver fresh local tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers through every season. Greenhouse produce can be grown during all weather conditions. This extends our local food season well beyond what we are able to produce in fields. Automated climate control systems regulate the growing environment. Venting is computer regulated. Diffuse glass filters light. Automated shades help to keep heat in when required. Many growers have also installed solar panels for renewable energy. And of course, inside a greenhouse, the greenhouse effect is a good thing. Tall ceilings create a protective cushion of air above plants to buffer extreme outdoor temperatures. Plants grow hydroponically and are planted in sustainable, recyclable materials. These bases are highly absorbent to keep plants healthy. Healthy plants are naturally more capable of fighting off disease. There's no need for herbicides. Much of the water used in greenhouses is collected rainwater. Plants are fed a nutritious water solution which is directly applied to their roots. This minimizes evaporation and helps reduce water consumption. Excess water is collected and cleaned with systems using technology such as UV filters before being reused. The greenhouse walls provide an effective physical barrier against pests, weeds and disease. Greenhouse farms in Ontario practice integrated pest management. This means good bugs like ladybugs and beneficial mites are deployed to naturally fight bad bugs. The helpful bugs are introduced with these small packets. Inside each one you might find up to a thousand tiny mites. Even bees act as natural pollinators inside greenhouses. Hives are placed strategically to ensure that bees are able to efficiently pollinate plants. Plants are trained to grow up supports. This vertical growing is an efficient use of space and makes harvesting easier. Workers can hand cut the vegetables at more comfortable heights when they are ready to harvest. Greenhouses produce 20 times more produce compared to outdoor agriculture. Many Ontario growers are leaders in packaging solutions too. Plastic is used to protect fragile crops and maintain freshness through their journey to the grocery stores to you. Thoughtful designs like top seal containers use 20 to 30% less plastic. Paper-based trays are compostable and recyclable. Packaging is carefully designed to minimize food waste and deliver the high quality consumers expect. Food waste is further minimized because Ontario greenhouses often pick, pack and ship on the same day. Being located close to key markets means that vegetables reach the consumer quickly at peak freshness. Greenhouse growing is an efficient and sustainable method to produce uniform crops that minimize waste and maximize yields and quality through every season. For greenhouse vegetable recipes and tips visit ProduceMadeSimple.ca