Mucci Farms Expanding Its Greenhouse Operations

BY KEITH LORIA | JULY 06, 2018

As a vertically integrated grower, packer, shipper and marketer of greenhouse-grown product, Mucci Farms owns more than 200 acres of tomato, Bell pepper, cucumber, lettuce and strawberry greenhouses in Kingsville, ON. In addition, the first 24 acres of a 60-acre expansion in Huron, OH, is now in operation.

Kingsville is also home to a 24-acre strawberry farm, which will be 36 acres by this fall, and is among the largest indoor strawberry farms in North America. Including support growers in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, the company markets for more than 700 acres.

Joe Spano, vice president of Mucci International Marketing Inc., noted a company needs to grow high-quality fruits/vegetables with premium flavor and consistent supply to be a success in this segment.

“You need to establish great relationships with retail partners and most importantly execute by delivering fresh product on time and of premium quality,” Spano said. “Offering marketing support through packaging, world-class branding and social media to assist with the sale of items and having the ability to manage unforeseen circumstances is also important.”

In 2018, Mucci Farms is enjoying a strong greenhouse harvest, as the crops look great and it is adding new automation equipment to improve packing efficiencies.

“We are introducing a Mucci Logistics App to allow retailers to track shipments in real time via GPS and communicate with dispatch or the driver through the app,” Spano said. “We also have several new packages coming out. One in particular is for a new cucumber variety, which includes a compartment that holds dip.”

In addition, the company is partnering with Henry Frose from Thermo Energy Systems to donate a greenhouse to be built on the site of Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor, ON, to serve as a place for the hospital to grow fresh produce and also for the greenhouse to serve as a healing garden for patients.

“Overall, we want people to know that we are a modern, forward-thinking company that is invested in the future of farming,” said Emily Murracas, director of marketing at Mucci International Marketing Inc. “In addition to business objectives, we also have social objectives that revolve around environmentally safe growing practices, social responsibility, sustainability and a high emphasis on corporate culture.”

Mucci Farms is also extremely involved in the community, hosting and sponsoring numerous events and initiatives throughout the year.

“We deliver fresh produce to multiple schools weekly, take part in fitness events and charitable fundraisers to raise awareness for health and wellness through the consumption of fresh vegetables,” Murracas said. “We want people to know that we are a family company that cares about more than just business. We are good corporate citizens that are keen on immersing ourselves into the community and take part in programs that encourage healthy living.”