July 5, 2017, Norfolk, Ont. – Several Ontario potato growers are focusing on organics this year, while the demand for new conventional varieties continues to grow.
Bill Nightingale Jr., president of Nightingale Farms in La Salette, Ontario, has partnered with neighboring grower Aaron Crombez to grow and pack 70 acres of certified organic potatoes under his Norfolk Organics label.
“During our local season, about 80 per cent of Ontario’s organic potatoes come from British Columbia and Prince Edward Island,” Nightingale said.
He plans to start harvesting in July and hopes to have organics until January, or whenever supplies run out.
“It gives us something to do in late fall and winter to put more pallets on the truck,” he said.
Trevor Downey, owner of Shelburne, Ontario-based Downey Potato Farms, an hour north of Toronto, is excited about his new organic farm within Rock Hill Park.
He plans to increase his organic acreage by 25 per cent this year for the Downey Farms Organic and Loblaw’s PC Organic label. READ MORE
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