Double Diamond Acres Ltd. in Leamington, ON, was in the middle of its Ontario greenhouse production June 28, and things were running smoothly despite a slow start to the season, Chris Mastronardi, co-owner of the company, told The Produce News.

“We had some wet weather at the start of the season, but things are much better now,” he said. “Cloudy skies prevent the sunlight from coming into the greenhouses, which translates to a little less production. The greenhouse industry relies predominantly on natural light to help the plants grow.

This season, all aspects of growing and shipping Ontario produce are strong, according to Fred Koornneef, president of Toronto-based Koornneef Produce Ltd.

On June 28, he said that for the last three months, Ontario greenhouses have been shipping “full-bore.”

Ontario field crops, such as zucchini had “just begun.” Strawberries and cherries were to begin harvest by mid-July and apricots, nectarines, peaches, and a variety of plums were to be on the market by late July, according to Mr. Koornneef.

Mr. DiMenna is gearing up to step into the role of chairman of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association for 2012 and 2013.

“These growing areas give us the ability to produce greenhouse vegetables year round,” said Ms. Pickersgill. “Our home farms in Ontario start producing in March and run through November — possibly even into December this year.

Anthony Totta, director of marketing for Clifford Produce in Leamington, ON, told The Produce News June 27 that the company continues to produce several varieties and types of high-quality greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers in its Ruthven, Leamington and Kingsville, ON, greenhouses.

Although cool weather earlier in 2011 is expected to slightly delay the harvest of California pears, growers and marketers are expecting the season to progress in an orderly manner.