Norfolk Organics is a fully integrated, state-of-the-art large scale organic vegetable farming operation in Norfolk County that includes the growing, cool storage, bulk shipping and distribution of high quality organic product with predicable volumes to support sales destined primarily for the large chain stores as well as independent retailers in Canada and the USA. The product is produced and delivered by a strategic alliance of Norfolk farmers to international standards; each will be HACCP certified and produce consistency in quality and supply to achieve the outmost level of customer satisfaction for this demanded product. Affordable pricing is achieved through economies and efficiencies of scale operations and the application of high technology methods which have been developed by Nightingale Farms Limited, the main player in the strategic alliance. 

With today’s consumers becoming more aware and concerned about their health and food safety issues, organic produce is increasing in popularity worldwide. Although its market share is relatively small compared to non-organic commercially grown product, organic produce is growing at rates in excess of 20 percent a year. The trends are very strong and established in Europe and becoming so in North America. The main reason that has prevented organic produce demand from exploding in Canada is poor availability and quality, fraudulent representation and product mistrust, considerably higher prices and lack of an organized industry of sufficient size that can supply the volumes and quality standards required by the large retail grocery chain stores.

Norfolk County’s light sand soils are considered to be among the most productive agriculture lands in Canada for the growing of high value crops.  Tobacco and ginseng have been important but more recently large scale vegetable farming in the county has shifted from loamy clay soils to sand as a result of the introduction of plasti-culture and drip irrigation technology.  These techniques enable the farmer to control moisture loss while capitalizing on sand’s superior drainage, lower disease susceptibility, higher soil temperatures and earlier and higher quality crop production.  High tunnel shelters, although in the development stage, have demonstrated superior quality vegetable production.  These methods by their ability to control weather and plant stress factors have lower requirements for water, pesticides and fertilizers than conventional vegetable production and as such can readily adopted and applied to the growing of organic crops on a large scale basis.

With global trends to healthier lifestyles, Nightingale Farms Limited and its associated project partners strongly believe that returning to a more natural way of growing food is not only inevitable but will be required for the agriculture to be sustainable.  Response by the large chain stores to a January 2006 Market Letter has been overwhelmingly positive and they are encouraged by the proposed coordinated approach to quality and volumes which will be required for this venture to succeed.  With the strong retailer support, favourable market conditions, the level of technology available and the advantages of the area’s soil and conditions, Nightingale Farms believe that large scale organic farming in Norfolk is economically viable with a manageable level of risk. 

This project is projected to surpass the past contribution of tobacco and ginseng to the area and because of its scale can be viewed as one of the most promising potential “pro-health image” products that could transform the county’s ailing agro-based economy.  Norfolk with its superior land base, favourable climate and accessibility to major markets in Ontario and the USA, could well become the “Organic Capital” of Ontario and ultimately North America.