New $75-million plant propagation greenhouse at Glencoe is just the start

A $75-million greenhouse project about to start production in Southwest Middlesex is only the beginning of what the company, Ontario Plants Propagation, has planned for the site.

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A producer of tomato, cucumber, and pepper starter plants for greenhouse growers in Canada and United States, Ontario Plants has three more phases planned for the 120-acre property in Glencoe.

Each phase will add about 13 acres of greenhouse to the 13 acres that has already been completed, along with 40 to 50 jobs.

“From an economic development perspective we’re absolutely thrilled to have them here,” said Cara Finn, director of economic development for Middlesex County and co-chair of the Ontario Food Cluster.

Finn said the company’s decision to locate its high tech complex in Middlesex County bodes well for drawing similar types of innovative agri-business industries.

Ontario Plants was founded in St. Thomas in 2002 where it has a 36-acre greenhouse and 25 acres of outdoor propagation fields.

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The company was sold in 2022 to Switzerland-based COFRA Holding, a privately held group of companies that employs more than 60,000 in Europe, Asia and the Americas in operations that include renewable energy, real estate investment, and apparel retail.

Financial details of the 2022 purchase of Ontario Plants Propagation were not disclosed.

The recently completed Glencoe greenhouse features advanced biosecurity measures, robotic growing techniques and pest control methods.

It also has a 45 million liter water retention pond designed to capture and recycle more than 90 percent of rainwater from the greenhouse roofs.

Also in the plans is a six-acre rooftop solar facility for the office and loading areas.

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Southwest Middlesex Mayor Allan Mayhew said there were several factors that made the site at Glencoe attractive for Ontario Plants to build its new greenhouse complex.

Quick and easy access to Highways 401, 402 and US access points at Windsor, Port Huron and Niagara border crossings were important considerations. There was value in land prices.

Biosecurity was also key.

“There was less chance of contamination from an outside greenhouse because there are no other greenhouses around here,” Mayhew said.

Mayhew believes the community atmosphere of the area also played a role.

“Southwest Middlesex is very much aware of the importance of agriculture in our region and the spinoffs of consulting services, farm equipment dealers, finance and insurance amenities,” he said.

The Glencoe greenhouse has a laboratory with a staff that includes PhDs in entomology and food safety. Foreign workers will be part of the production team.

Mayhew said housing for the foreign workers will be built on site.

“Glencoe is looking forward to hosting offshore workers. They contribute to the economy just as anyone would. They buy groceries, they patronize the same shops, they attend the same functions.”

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