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Golden Acre Farms, Kingsville, Ontario

"Louis Chibante was one of the first adopters of the high wire cucumber system in Leamington. Chibante has a background in high wire tomato. "Maybe that is why I like it so much as well. The system makes sense to us."
"Louis Chibante was one of the first adopters of the high wire cucumber system in Leamington. Chibante has a background in high wire tomato. "Maybe that is why I like it so much as well. The system makes sense to us."
"The 7,3 meter high greenhouse structure was built in 2011 and is equipped with a snowload pipe and a double screen installation; an energy screen and a shading/diffusing curtain. Chibanti; "By that time, not much was known about diffuse glass yet, otherwise we would have used that as well."
"The 7,3 meter high greenhouse structure was built in 2011 and is equipped with a snowload pipe and a double screen installation; an energy screen and a shading/diffusing curtain. Chibanti; "By that time, not much was known about diffuse glass yet, otherwise we would have used that as well."
Chibanti runs two crops per year without lights. This crop (Rijk Zwaan's Verdon) was planted in July. In high wire, al cukes are harvested from the main stem, which results in a phenomenal quality. With the help of supplemental lighting, Chibanti eventually hopes to grow just 1 crop per year.
Chibanti runs two crops per year without lights. This crop (Rijk Zwaan's Verdon) was planted in July. In high wire, al cukes are harvested from the main stem, which results in a phenomenal quality. With the help of supplemental lighting, Chibanti eventually hopes to grow just 1 crop per year.
Golden Acre Farms invests a lot in R&D. They extensively compared investments in HPS and LED top and inter-lighting, and installed several lamps in a few bays to run trials. According to Chibanti, HPS is still the best option for them in terms of costs, production and extra heat. That is why they soon will install Gavita top lighting in the rest of this greenhouse.
Golden Acre Farms invests a lot in R&D. They extensively compared investments in HPS and LED top and inter-lighting, and installed several lamps in a few bays to run trials. According to Chibanti, HPS is still the best option for them in terms of costs, production and extra heat. That is why they soon will install Gavita top lighting in the rest of this greenhouse.
LED inter-lighting between high wire cucumbers. According to Chibanti, a hybrid combination of HPS top light and LED inter-lighting might eventually be the best solution, if the price of LEDs continues to decrease.
LED inter-lighting between high wire cucumbers. According to Chibanti, a hybrid combination of HPS top light and LED inter-lighting might eventually be the best solution, if the price of LEDs continues to decrease.
A bay with LED top lighting at Golden Acre Farms. Chibanti said that aside of the high investment cost, he also misses the top heat with LEDs.
A bay with LED top lighting at Golden Acre Farms. Chibanti said that aside of the high investment cost, he also misses the top heat with LEDs.
The patterned sticky tape Optiroll Super from Russell IPM claims to catch more whiteflies than a standard plain tape.
The patterned sticky tape Optiroll Super from Russell IPM claims to catch more whiteflies than a standard plain tape.
An employee of Golden Acre Farms collects the harvested cukes and transports them to the packing hall. As you can see, the entire greenhouse looks very tidy and organized.
An employee of Golden Acre Farms collects the harvested cukes and transports them to the packing hall. As you can see, the entire greenhouse looks very tidy and organized.
Less than 1% of all picked high wire cucumbers at Golden Acre Farms end up as class 2 produce.
Less than 1% of all picked high wire cucumbers at Golden Acre Farms end up as class 2 produce.
"Golden Acre Farms is using integrated biological crop protection as much as they can. "We try to last as long as possible without spraying, we are almost an organic nursery, aside from the substrate and synthetic fertilizers"
"Golden Acre Farms is using integrated biological crop protection as much as they can. "We try to last as long as possible without spraying, we are almost an organic nursery, aside from the substrate and synthetic fertilizers"
The participants of the bus tour were impressed by the quality and production figures of the high wire cucumber crop.
The participants of the bus tour were impressed by the quality and production figures of the high wire cucumber crop.
This is the water technical area of the greenhouse complex. All the irrigation water is recycled after extensive filtration and treatments.
This is the water technical area of the greenhouse complex. All the irrigation water is recycled after extensive filtration and treatments.
In order to optimize the productivity and traceability, Priva's FS Performance is used.
In order to optimize the productivity and traceability, Priva's FS Performance is used.
Dutch company KOAT installed two of these robots at Golden Acre Farms to decrease the amount of labour in the packing hall. One of the robots is stacking and destacking cucumber crates. While another is stacking the graded and packed boxes on pallets before shipping.
Dutch company KOAT installed two of these robots at Golden Acre Farms to decrease the amount of labour in the packing hall. One of the robots is stacking and destacking cucumber crates. While another is stacking the graded and packed boxes on pallets before shipping.
This special disinfection sluice prevents contamination with crop diseases.
This special disinfection sluice prevents contamination with crop diseases.
Al picked cucumbers go through a final quality check before they go to a shrink wrap installation.
Al picked cucumbers go through a final quality check before they go to a shrink wrap installation.
A grading system then sorts al cukes on size and weight before they are being boxed.
A grading system then sorts al cukes on size and weight before they are being boxed.
Golden Acre Farms ships all of their cucumbers via JemD.
Golden Acre Farms ships all of their cucumbers via JemD.
We would like to thank Louis Chibante and Golden Acre Farms for the tour.
We would like to thank Louis Chibante and Golden Acre Farms for the tour.