Ten years ago, Hacienda North Farms began cultivating peppers in its first greenhouse. Since then, the Ontario-based grower has steadily expanded to cover 160 acres and last year, the company was acquired by Mucci Farms. Despite challenges with crop failures, which are common for Canadian growers, the company remains resilient. By investing in ozone technology and switching to coco substrate, it aims to cultivate healthier bell peppers free from root issues.
The journey started in 2012 with a small greenhouse dedicated to peppers. Just two years later, the greenhouse was sold to make way for a larger 17-acre facility, which began operations in February 2015. This was followed by expansions: 17 additional acres in 2017, 36 acres in 2019, and 90 more acres in 2022.
Hacienda North Farms
First experience with ozone
Each expansion included investments in water disinfection, starting with UV technology. "We used UV from the beginning because it was the most common method at the time," explaines Johnny Braun, General Manager of Hacienda North Farms.
One team member, who had experience with alternative disinfection methods from a previous role at a Canadian greenhouse vegetable producer, encountered ozone technology through Agrozone generators.
After joining the bell pepper operation in 2015, the grower continued tracking advancements in ozone generators for water disinfection. "The results with Agrozone systems were promising, and the generators kept improving," he notes.
Root problems
In recent years, Canadian pepper growers have struggled with root issues. The first signs emerged in 2022, albeit limited, without a full understanding that the problem differed from typical Pythium or Fusarium infections. The following year saw larger issues. "We tried everything, from high UV levels for water disinfection, increased oxygen dosing in irrigation water, to specific crop protection products for the root zone. Despite these efforts, we couldn't control the problem, leading to the realization that this was a different kind of root issue than we were used to."
Growers with ozone stand out
Last year, severe damage forced many growers to end their crops early. At Hacienda North Farms, they observed that a neighboring grower using ozone to disinfect drain water had better control over root issues in peppers. This prompted a closer examination of ozone technology in 2024. Water sample analyses showed that higher ozone doses were effective in managing root problems. "This led us to rethink our approach to ozone," they explain.
Ozone for disinfecting drain water
In 2019, alongside UV, Hacienda North Farms installed an Agrozone ozone system for treating water from Lake Erie, used for irrigation in the greenhouses. By 2024, the focus shifted to using ozone for disinfecting drain water in greenhouses experiencing root issues. "Although it was too late to save the crop, we saw a positive effect on the plants treated with ozone-disinfected drain water."
Ozone unit of Agrozone
High kill rate
The difference between using the ozone generator and not using it was clear, convincing the growers they needed a stronger generator to reach an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of 850 millivolts. This decision was based on water samples taken in 2024 from a 4.5-acre pepper greenhouse on coco substrate, where a generator purchased in 2019 was in use. "Reaching an ORP of 800 showed a much higher kill rate compared to 750," they note.
This greenhouse, which used coco substrate and disinfected drain water with ozone, was the only one that did not require early crop termination last year. With these findings, the growers chose to play it safe. "Coco substrate adds more organic material to your drain water, so you need more ozone for effective disinfection."
Smiling growers
By mid-January in Wheatley, planting is in full swing across all 160 acres, now completely switched to coco substrate with ozone generators up and running. For the first time, Hacienda North Farms is using ozone to treat all greenhouse drain water instead of UV.
The growers have found the change easier to manage. "Ozone is simple and has fewer issues compared to UV. Once we hit the right ORP with the generator, we're good. Plus, growing on coco substrate is easier than rockwool, so our team is pretty happy right now," they share.
Are pepper growers too hygienic?
Hacienda North Farms isn't the only Canadian pepper grower switching to coco substrate and ozone. Cees de Haan from Agrozone, which has operations in Holland and Canada, shares that they are transitioning over 200 hectares of pepper cultivation from UV to ozone disinfection. "This winter, we are installing more than 1,000 cubic meters per hour of ozone disinfection capacity, just for bell pepper greenhouses. These are significant numbers."
The exact cause of pepper crop failures in Canada, which is also an issue in the Netherlands, remains unclear. The management at the Canadian farm expects the problem to become more widespread and suspects that "overly hygienic" growing practices could be contributing. "In 2023, it mostly affected growers with newer greenhouses, but last year it spread much further. It's not just high-tech greenhouses but also polytunnels facing issues. While we don't believe hygiene is the root cause, building strong microbiology in the root zone is definitely important."
Lake Erie is close to the greenhouses
More clarity by May
Aside from switching to coco substrate and ozone, Hacienda North Farms isn't changing its cultivation methods this season. "We'll keep using our usual biological agents for crop protection," they say, adding that fewer than a thousand plants are grafted onto rootstocks. "Our trials with rootstocks didn't show any improvement for this issue."
The first harvest is expected in the third week of March, with the goal of finishing the season without root problems by late November or early December. "We'll know by the end of April or early May if we've succeeded," they share confidently. "Nothing is more frustrating for our hardworking growers than losing a crop during cultivation. We believe the switch to coco substrate and ozone will make a real difference based on the results we've seen recently."
Greenhouse overview photo's by Mucci Marketing Department
For more information:
Agrozone
cdh@agrozone.nl
www.agrozoneint.com