Nature Fresh Farms Is Growing For A Kinder Future

When it comes to farming, there’s always room to grow! Every day, Nature Fresh Farms looks for better and greener ways to do the things they do. This has led them to some great ways to grow: good bugs for pest control, a closed-loop water system, and new tools to help them hear what their plants have to say.

This vision has kept Nature Fresh Farms moving forward since 1999, when they planted their first seed. Their joy in discovery and innovation keeps them curious about new ways to bring the future to the farm and do better for plants, people, and the planet.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE BY DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

Nature Fresh Farms likes to push the boundaries with research and innovation. From robot-monitored machines and systems that control the farm’s climate using thousands of tiny sensors, to driverless carts that bring tomatoes straight to the packing line, the farming tools of today are a lot different than those of the past— and there are always new technologies on the horizon to help grow, pick, pack, and ship your food.

And it’s not just technology that Nature Fresh Farms is exploring—in 2015, they opened the Discovery Center, a 2.5acre trial greenhouse dedicated to researching, growing, and testing new seeds.

The Discovery Center is all about going back to the roots to find the best way forward. Flavour is paramount to Nature Fresh Farms, but so are things like shelf life and the amount of food a single seed can produce. New seeds are tested in the Discovery Center every season so that only the best produce makes its way from the farm to your dinner table.

THE POWER OF GREENHOUSE GROWING

Water and farming go hand in hand. Water, one of the world’s most valuable resources, is used every day to bring food and nourishment to plants.

To get the most out of water, Nature Fresh Farms uses a closed-loop watering system.

Plants know how much water they need to grow, and a closed-loop system allows them to get exactly that amount. This system allows extra water to be collected, cleaned, and cleared for the next trip around the greenhouse—and on and on it goes.

The best part about watering plants with a closed-loop system is the amount of water that gets saved. In 2020, Nature Fresh Farms saved roughly 320 million litres of water by using this system–that’s roughly the same amount of water you would find in 128 Olympic-sized swimming pools!

Another key to keeping plants healthy is keeping them safe from pests. Even though the plants grow inside, there are still different ways that bad bugs can get into greenhouses and cause damage. Luckily, good bugs like the Lacewing, Cucumeris, and Ladybug help protect plants from bad bugs like Aphids, Thrips, and Spider Mites. Good bugs are a greenhouse farm’s best (and most eco-friendly) line of defence to keep bad bugs at bay.

Finding new methods of preserving valuable resources like water and protecting plants with good bugs are just a few ways that Nature Fresh Farms is growing for a kinder future.

Tradition still has a place in farming—it’s just a matter of keeping the best parts of the past when forging ahead into the future. Farming will always be about building character, and when it’s a family affair, it’s that much more meaningful.

Nature Fresh Farms is a leader in greenhouse farming, transforming the way we grow for the better and doing things differently to create sustainable farming methods—all while keeping millions of people fed with fresh, healthy food.

Learn more at naturefresh.ca

MATT QUIRING, DIRECTOR OF SALES; PETER QUIRING, PRESIDENT AND JOHN KETLER, VICE PRESIDENT OF NATURE FRESH FARMS

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CORN, AVOCADO & BACON SALSA

This appetizer features a flavourful corn, avocado, and bacon salsa topped with juicy scallops seared to perfection.

INGREDIENTS:

FOR SCALLOPS

• 8 large scallops • 2 tbsp. olive oil • 2 tbsp. butter • Salt and pepper to taste

FOR SALSA

• 12 cherry tomatoes, quartered • 1 red bell pepper, diced • 4 bacon strips, cooked and chopped • 2 ears sweet corn, kernelled • 1 avocado, diced • ½ red onion, diced • 2 limes, juiced • 2 tbsp. olive oil • Fresh cilantro for garnish

STEPS:

• Wash all produce before cooking. • To begin preparing the salsa, cook bacon strips until crispy, then chop into smaller pieces. • Using 1 tablespoon of bacon grease, add diced peppers, red onion, and kernelled corn to your pan. Cook 4-5 minutes or until tender. • Take salsa out of pan and add diced avocados and quartered cherry tomatoes, and gently mix to combine all ingredients. • To cook scallops, heat up butter and oil in pan, then add scallops to pan to sear. Ensure all scallops have been patted dry with a paper towel before searing. • Sear the scallops for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through. Let the scallops rest for 2-3 minutes. Serve scallops on top of a helping of salsa for an easy, colourful, and flavour-rich appetizer!

CHEF’S TIP:

If you have extra salsa, try serving it with shrimp, on a cooked chicken breast, or in a fish taco!