Nature Fresh Farms Featured in an Episode of YTV’s Kid Food Nation: The Show

July 20, 2021

Nature Fresh Farms joins YTV’s Kid Food Nation: The Show to educate children on greenhouse growing and fresh vegetable production.

Nature Fresh Farms will be featured in an episode during the second season of Kid Food Nation: The Show, giving the cast and the viewers at home a peek inside greenhouse and packaging facilities while exploring the many processes it takes to grow, package, and ship fresh food. Hosts Spencer and Tyra interview members of the Nature Fresh Farms team as they answer questions and share their knowledge about all things inside the greenhouse.

Kid Food Nation: The Show is in partnership with Kid Food Nation and President’s Choice Children’s Charity. The series follows Spencer, Tyra, and kid food nation heroes as they embark on culinary missions and answer questions like, "Should I eat crickets?" or "Are dandelions edible?" The jam-packed 8 episode run for Season 2 will be fun, informative, and inspirational to chefs both young and old. Like the show, the Kid Food Nation project aims to encourage Canadian kids to explore food through online recipes, activities, and videos. Founded by President’s Choice Children’s Charity, BGC Canada and Corus Entertainment, and now in its fifth year, the initiative celebrates a selection of junior chefs from every corner of Canada, featuring their family recipes in an annual contest and cookbook.

“Kid Food Nation is an amazing initiative that aligns completely with our vision of inspiring children and their families to learn about where their fresh fruits and vegetables come from while encouraging nutritional eating,” said Marketing Director, Stephanie Swatkow. “This was a great opportunity to share how we deliver fresh produce from seed to table in a fun interactive way that the program offers.”

Committed to educating consumers and helping to build healthier communities, Nature Fresh Farms believes in cultivating healthy, life-long eating habits through education and teaching important food skills so families can continually develop a healthier relationship with food.

The second season of Kid Food Nation: The Show will premiere on YTV this summer on July 28th at 6:30 pm EST. Each episode will also be uploaded on the Kid Food Nation YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/kidfoodnation.

About Nature Fresh Farms

Continuously expanding, Nature Fresh Farms has become one of the largest independent, vertically integrated greenhouse vegetable farms in North America. As a year-round grower with farms in Leamington, ON, Delta, OH, and Mexico, Nature Fresh Farms prides itself on consistently delivering exceptional flavor and quality to key retailers throughout North America, while continuing to innovate and introduce more viable and sustainable growing and packaging solutions.

About Kid Food Nation

Kid Food Nation is a five-year project to excite the inner foodie in every Canadian kid. Created in partnership with President’s Choice Children’s Charity, BGC Canada, and Corus Entertainment, with the support of the Government of Canada, the Kid Food Nation online hub on YTV.com features cooking videos with kids, celebrity chefs, and local talent, tips for nutritious foods, as well as games and quizzes. In addition, topics related to the Kid Food Nation curriculum will also be available on the online hub.

The annual Kid Food Nation recipe contest encourages kids between the ages of seven and 13 from across the country to share their love of good food by submitting original, healthy recipes that highlight their culture or their Canadian pride. Each year, 26 young winners are chosen, representing every province and territory in Canada, to have their recipes and chef profiles published in the Kid Food Nation cookbook.

About Corus Entertainment

Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that develops and delivers high-quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world. Engaging audiences since 1999, the company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompass 33 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a suite of digital assets, animation software, technology, and media services. Corus is an established creator of globally distributed content through Nelvana animation studio, Corus Studios, and children’s book publishing house Kids Can Press. The company also owns an innovative full-service social digital agency so.da, and lifestyle entertainment company Kin Canada. Corus’ roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY®, Showcase, Adult Swim, NationalGeographic, Disney Channel Canada, YTV, Global News, Globalnews.ca, Q107, Country 105, and CFOX. Visit Corus at www.corusent.com.

SOURCE: Nature Fresh Farms | info@naturefresh.ca

T: 519 326 1111 | www.naturefresh.ca

Nature Fresh Farms And The University of Windsor Looks To Bring Clean Transportation In New Partnership

July 5, 2021

Leamington, ON – Nature Fresh Farms joins the University of Windsor in their long-haul vehicle transportation sustainability project to help achieve new advancements in energy efficient shipping.

The purpose of this $160,000 project is to determine the impact of long-haul electric vehicles (LHEV) on Ontario’s electric grid. They will create an archetypal routing network by determining the most frequently traveled routes and then overlay the electric grid which will help determine how it will perform when managing a fleet of electric trucks. Being battery operated the trucks will look, haul, and perform similarly to diesel trucks but with zero emissions. By drawing power from the electric grid, the transport trucks would not only be able to sustainably deliver goods but also allow for the transferring of electrons back to the grid at strategic locations and times.

The project is spearheaded by Dr. Rupp Carriveau, of the Environmental Energy Institute, and his associate Dr. Hanna Maoh, of the Cross Border Institute, with the assistance of several graduate students. In addition, they are developing various industry related partnerships that will assist in different facets of their project, including Nature Fresh Farms.

“We needed a partner to help pilot our project and potentially test and Nature Fresh Farms came to mind. They are a very progressive company and are calculated risk takers that push boundaries with new technologies.” – Rupp Carriveau

The analytics and case studies are where Nature Fresh Farms comes in. The company will be able to send information from its operations which will include shipping schedules, power use, and utility costs to provide the research team with data that will determine the strengths and weaknesses of converting its fleet to electric vehicles. This information will help to examine the opportunities of electric trucks in the greenhouse industry.

“As an innovative company we are always thinking ‘what is next?’, whether its developments in product varieties, technology, or sustainability. Green transportation is the next big focus,” shared Nature Fresh Farms CEO, Peter Quiring. “We were given the opportunity to work closely on this project and offer our operations as a case study to see how we can find feasible alternatives, not only for Nature Fresh Farms or even for companies in agriculture, but for every industry that relies on the transportation of their goods.”

With the first step of the project working towards establishing an electrical grid that will manage a fleet of electric vehicles, phase two is the potential pilot study of developing and using electric long-haul vehicles for that grid. Nature Fresh Farms looks forward to the continued partnership and progression of their project with the University of Windsor and the future in the sustainable shipping of goods.

About Nature Fresh Farms - Continuously expanding, Nature Fresh Farms has become one of the largest independent, vertically integrated greenhouse vegetable farms in North America. As a year-round grower with farms in Leamington, ON, Delta, OH, and Mexico, Nature Fresh Farms prides itself on consistently delivering exceptional flavor and quality to key retailers throughout North America, while continuing to innovate and introduce more viable and sustainable growing and packaging solutions.

SOURCE: Nature Fresh Farms | info@naturefresh.ca

T: 519 326 1111 | www.naturefresh.ca

Lead Photo: CEO, Peter Quiring (Left) & Dr. Rupp Carriveau (Right)

Luci Faas Recognized For Her Industry Efforts As Women In Produce Honoree

Leamington, ON (April 9th, 2021) – Nature Fresh Farms’ very own Product Development Specialist, Luci Faas, has been recognized for her excellence in the produce industry.

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The Canadian Produce Marketing Association, in partnership with Grocery Business Magazine, has developed the Women in Produce initiative to recognize the achievements of outstanding women in the produce industry. Luci Faas, along with nine other women, were nominated by industry peers for their contributions to promoting produce in the industry. The ten honorees will be recognized during CPMA’s Fresh Summit virtual event on April 13th.

Last year Nature Fresh Farms launched their Compostable Cucumber wrap with Luci leading its development. The concept of a home Compostable Cucumber wrap was very new, with the initial investigation solely beginning with online research and making phone calls. After two years of trial and development, they were able to develop a film made from a starch-based material with a printed PLU in compostable ink and launched the product on the North American market.

“I have always been passionate about sustainable packaging and I am very honored by the nomination. However, I want to acknowledge the various others who worked on this film and their patience in making this innovative idea into a reality for us,” shared Luci. “I believe this will pave the way for more sustainable packaging options to grace the shelves of grocery stores across the continent.”

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Luci Faas joined Nature Fresh Farms three years ago as Purchasing & Product Development, now as Product Development Specialist, Luci is responsible for sourcing innovative Nature Fresh Farms packaging and understanding its viability by initiating and monitoring shelf-life testing. She is on top of the latest industry developments in sustainable packaging and ensures all new packaging meets recognized criteria, in addition to maintaining memberships with industry associations including Sustainable Packaging Coalition and How2Recycle. Her dedication to the vigorous research, development, and implementation of industry-leading sustainable packaging solutions has been a great service for both the produce industry and the environment.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Luci’s passion, knowledge, and expertise behind our packaging development, which is why when the call for nominations came out for the Women in Produce initiative, we knew she deserved the recognition,” shared Vice President John Ketler. “We have a lot of strong women working at Nature Fresh Farms, and we feel that it is important to increase the profiles of women in this industry to engage and create awareness.”

Women play a critical role in the daily operations of farming and the agriculture industry, which is why it is important to continually support their advancement, leadership, and the diverse perspectives they bring to the industry. Nature Fresh Farms would like to acknowledge all the incredible women in the agriculture industry and congratulate the Women in Produce nominees for their accomplishments.

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About Nature Fresh Farms -

Continuously expanding, Nature Fresh Farms has become one of the largest independent, vertically integrated greenhouse vegetable farms in North America. As a year-round grower with farms in Leamington, ON, Delta, OH, and Mexico, Nature Fresh Farms prides itself on consistently delivering exceptional flavor and quality to key retailers throughout North America, while continuing to innovate and introduce more viable and sustainable growing and packaging solutions.

SOURCE: Nature Fresh Farms | info@naturefresh.ca T: 519 326 1111 | www.naturefresh.ca

Nature Fresh Farms Releases NEW 100% Home Compostable Cucumber Wrap

Leamington, ON (September 8, 2020) – Nature Fresh Farms continue their sustainable initiatives by releasing a new, 100% home compostable wrap for their Long English Cucumbers, a first in the North American market.

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An alternative to traditional polyethylene plastic, this film is an environmentally friendly compostable wrap that breaks down in a household compost without leaving behind microplastics. The compostable film will prolong the shelf life of the product; however, it will do so without adding to long term landfill waste. Made from a starch-based PLA that is derived from plant-based resources including non-GMO corn starch, it is 100% compostable, breaking down naturally into CO2 and water.

Each cucumber wrap contains 0.00436 lbs of plastic; this translates to the equivalent of 23-million plastic straws saved from landfills for every 5-million Cucumbers wrapped in the compostable film. Cucumbers are packed in shrink wrap to significantly extend their life by minimizing evaporation. Through the compostable film, Nature Fresh Farms has found a packaging solution that can maintain the shelf life of the Cucumber, while meeting the demands of more sustainable packaging alternatives.

“The launch of the compostable wrap is a demonstration of our commitment to our consumer’s wants of reducing plastic usage. We are excited to be first to market with this initiative in North American and are hopeful this will start a trend with the industry while we continue to lead in sustainable packaging solutions.”

--Matt Quiring, Director of Sales

In addition, the wrap includes a PLU pre-printed on the film in compostable ink. This feature allows the entire wrap to be thrown in with backyard compost or in landfills without harming the environment. PLU stickers are commonly made of vinyl and plastic. This new wrap eliminates the need for the additional application.

“After two years of research & development and a lot of trial & error, it’s so exciting to see this film launch in the market. We are confident in this product’s ability to make a true difference
(in reducing harmful plastic waste)”

---Luci Faas, Product Development Specialist

At Nature Fresh Farms we are driven to accelerate innovation via evidence-informed sustainable packaging solutions that provide a better experience for our customers, while also helping to preserve the vitality of our planet.

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About Nature Fresh Farms -

Continuously expanding, Nature Fresh Farms has become one of the largest independent, vertically integrated greenhouse vegetable farms in North America. As a year-round grower with farms in Leamington ON, Delta OH, and Mexico, Nature Fresh Farms prides itself on consistently delivering exceptional flavor and quality to key retailers throughout North America, while continuing to innovate and introduce more viable and sustainable growing and packaging solutions.

SOURCE: Nature Fresh Farms | info@naturefresh.ca T: 519 326 1111 | www.naturefresh.ca