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Tag: vegetable

The Packer-- Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable

Inside Ontario’s Billion-Dollar Greenhouse Surge

Written by From The Packer - By Jennifer Strailey on . Posted in Blog.

By Jennifer Strailey for The Packer

From a concentrated hub in southwestern Ontario, the majority of Canada’s greenhouse growers are strategically located within a 24-hour drive of more than half the U.S. population — positioning the province, not just as a local producer, but as a year-round vegetable garden of North America.

Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers represents a network of more than 170 of these growers, who specialize in tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers and contribute some $2.5 billion to the province’s gross domestic product each year. Production is spread across 4,500 acres, about 80% of which is concentrated in Kingsville and Leamington.

“In recent years, the sector has enjoyed an average annual growth rate of 7%, and projections suggest expansion could continue at roughly 5% per year until 2033, provided ongoing support from government policies and strong partnerships with local municipalities,” says Richard Lee, executive director of OGVG. “The sector’s impressive expansion has been propelled by robust demand from the U.S., driving sustained growth over the past decade.”

Read full story from The Packer…

Drygair at Indoor Ag-Con

DryGair Is Saving Energy and Improving Yields Across N. American Horticulture

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on . Posted in Blog, Exhibitor News.

Dehumidification system manufacturer, DryGair (Indoor Ag-Con Booth 207), has been at the forefront of the horticulture humidity control market since its inception in 2010. The company has recently established its N. America branch, in order to better serve the U.S. and Canadian markets, as the system is becoming more and more popular, in a wider variety of crops.

Director of the N. America branch, Douglas Miller, mentions DryGair’s success in Europe, most notably in the Netherlands.

“Growers in Europe have been using DryGair for a long time, in a variety of different crops and facilities. It’s become a staple, especially in flowers and other ornamental plants, as well as herbs, leafy greens, and many types of vegetable and vine crops.”

Growers Use DryGair for a Variety of Benefits

The patented dehumidification system was developed at the Volcani Agricultural Research Center, as one of the first solutions for active humidity reduction in horticultural environments. Advanced greenhouses were quick to adopt the technology, as it was shown to not only prevent diseases and improve yields, but also save a significant amount of energy.

“When people think of dehumidification, they think of mold prevention”, Miller says. “But it’s much more than that. Maintaining an ideal relative humidity range, coupled with a uniform climate (thanks to DryGair’s patented air circulation mechanism), has a major impact on the crop. It creates an active climate that stimulates growth and improves quality.”

“The system also saves a lot of energy. By making ventilation unnecessary, you can retain heat inside, which significantly reduces heating requirements. We’ve seen an average of 50% savings, compared to traditional humidity control methods, in trials and customer experiences.”

DryGair’s Success in the Cannabis Sector

In contrast to the European markets, in the U.S. and Canada, DryGair was mostly popularized in cannabis production.

“We’ve had a lot of success in commercial and medical cannabis production in the U.S. and Canada. Cannabis growers were early adopters, quickly realizing that effective humidity control can make or break entire grow cycles” Miller mentions.

“Of course, when it comes to cannabis, humidity control is extremely important, as it’s the main tool for mold prevention. It’s necessary in all stages of cultivation and is actually a GMP requirement for medicinal cannabis production.”

Popularizing Dehumidification in Vegetable and Flower Cultivation

“However, more and more ‘traditional’ growers have been taking note.” Miller adds. “Vegetable, flower, and potted plant growers are realizing the benefits their counterparts across the world are reaping.”

Drygair At Indoor Ag-Con 2024Once growers understand that this tool can both improve yields and reduce costs, it’s an easy decision,” he adds.

DryGair will be presenting their humidity control solution at the upcoming Indoor Ag-Con. Visit the company at booth #207 to discuss effective humidity control and energy savings possibilities for your facility.

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