Greenhouse Success Stories: Commercial Growers on What Works

Greenhouse Success Stories: Commercial Growers on What Works

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Greenhouse Success Stories: Commercial Growers on What Works episodes

  • 3: What $7 Million in Unexpected Tariffs Taught Richard Lee About Resilience in Agriculture

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    Harnois Greenhouse

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    “You can’t suck and blow at the same time. We’re talking about keeping our elbows up by Canadian support. Canadian. And then you have these draconian policies being implemented at all levels of government,” says Richard lee, Executive Director of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers Association, who joins Trina Semenchuk on Greenhouse Success Stories to expose the mounting obstacles faced by greenhouse growers in Ontario.

    With decades of experience blending entrepreneurial spirit and environmental advocacy, Richard shares how everything from waste management to property taxation threatens the Canadian greenhouse sector’s growth and sustainability—and why municipalities might be driving innovative producers out of the country. His first-hand accounts reveal both crisis and opportunity, making for a provocative conversation anyone interested in the future of food, farming, and Canadian innovation shouldn’t miss.

    5 Key Takeaways
    1. Collaboration makes solutions possible—reach out to local municipalities, associations, and stakeholders to advocate for greenhouse-friendly policies before you build or expand.
    2. Waste is opportunity in disguise. Audit your greenhouse packaging and waste streams, and connect with innovative recyclers to pioneer sustainable, circular solutions.
    3. Fight for unified, fair regulations. Lend your voice to push for harmonized recycling, infrastructure, and trade policies that empower—not restrict—growers.
    4. Don’t wait for disaster—secure your business. Work with associations to advocate for payment protection, business risk programs, and fair access to trade markets now.
    5. Build strong relationships with community leaders. Schedule ongoing meetings, invite them on greenhouse tours, and celebrate shared successes to strengthen support for your operation’s future.

    Memorable Quotes"You can't suck and blow at the same time. We're talking about keeping our elbows up by Canadian support, and then you have these draconian policies being implemented at all levels of government. Don't get me wrong, it's not just municipalities that aim to contradict any future investment in greenhouse.""We need to be proactive, not reactive. We keep playing this game of whack-a-mole—something pops up, we whack it, we're just chasing issues. We know what the growth trajectory is, we know what we need to do to support that trajectory. The question now becomes, do you want to support it? That's at the municipal, provincial, and federal level.""Controlled environment agriculture, greenhouse is the future of agriculture and is where we need to continue to put our resources. The future is going to be bright, but we need to be proactive to support it."Connect with Richard

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-lee-a8312b25b/

    Connect with Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers

    Website: https://www.ogvg.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontario-greenhouse-vegetable-growers/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ONgreenhouseVeg

    X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ONgreenhouseVeg

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ongreenhouseveg/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ongreenhouseveg

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ongreenhouseveg

    Connect With Us

    GSS LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalfarmingpodcast

    GSS Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/

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    AgTech Digest - https://agtechdigest.com

    The Indoor Farmer - https://www.indoorverticalfarm.com/

    Horti-Gen Insights - https://www.hortigeninsights.com/

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    Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast

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    Mentioned in this episode:

    2025 Precision Ag Report by iGrowNews

    2025 Precision Ag Report

    2025 Precision Ag Report by iGrowNews

    2025 Precision Ag Report

    1 hr 3 min
  • 2: Why Mentoring Your Team Holds the Key to Sustainable Greenhouse Success with Laura Martin

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    Harnois Greenhouse

    Website - https://harnoisgreenhouse.com/

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerresHarnoisGreenhouses

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/harnois.ghs/

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/serres-harnois-greenhouse/

    “Being a grower is incredibly hard work. You’re the first one in, the last one out, and when things go wrong, whether it’s weather, pests or timelines, it all lands on you,” says Laura Martin, head grower at Shackan Indian Band, whose thirty years in the greenhouse industry have spanned everything from family-run cedar hedging operations to pioneering native species restoration in British Columbia’s wildfire-ravaged landscapes.

    In this episode of Greenhouse Success Stories, Laura Martin opens up about her lifelong passion for propagation, the relentless challenges of labor shortages in remote locations, and her vision to transform her nursery into a hands-on learning center for the next generation of growers. Discover why Laura Martin sees mentoring and community collaboration as the keystones to long-term greenhouse success—and what it takes to build something meaningful from the ashes.

    5 Key Takeaways
    1. Build your succession plan—mentor and train a right-hand person so your greenhouse is never left stranded and you can finally take that well-earned break.
    2. Don’t wait for perfect resumes—hire for passion, work ethic, and willingness to learn, then invest in hands-on teaching and mentorship to fill the skill gap.
    3. Collaborate with local communities and institutions—reach out to First Nations, universities, and trade schools to create a robust pipeline of future growers.
    4. Diversify your approach to labor shortages—leverage grant funding, automation, and creative partnerships to keep operations running strong even in remote areas.
    5. Advocate for hands-on learning—push universities and training programs to focus on real-world greenhouse experience and not just theory.

    Memorable Quotes"Being a grower is incredibly hard work. You're the first one in, the last one out, and when things go wrong—whether it's weather, pests, or timelines—it all lands on you.""I would like to make this nursery into a learning center. I hope to intrigue people to come out, learn here, and become growers so they can go out into the industry with the skills they need.""My advice is to always mentor somebody to be your person. Have someone you're training to be the next in line, so you can start taking a holiday and eventually leave things running well."Resources Mentioned

    Shackan Indian Band - https://www.shackan.ca/

    Connect With Us

    GSS LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalfarmingpodcast

    GSS Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/

    Subscribe to our newsletters!

    AgTech Digest - https://agtechdigest.com

    The Indoor Farmer - https://www.indoorverticalfarm.com/

    Horti-Gen Insights - https://www.hortigeninsights.com/

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    Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast

    Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/

    Mentioned in this episode:

    2025 Precision Ag Report by iGrowNews

    2025 Precision Ag Report

    2025 Precision Ag Report by iGrowNews

    2025 Precision Ag Report

    50 min
  • 1: What a Broken Irrigation Valve Taught Luis-Gabriel Forero About Preventing Costly Greenhouse Mistakes

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    Thanks to Our Sponsor

    Harnois Greenhouse

    Website - https://harnoisgreenhouse.com/

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerresHarnoisGreenhouses

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/harnois.ghs/

    LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/serres-harnois-greenhouse/

    Welcome to the very first episode of Greenhouse Success Stories! In this premiere, hosts Trina Semenchek sits down with Gabriel Forero, Head Grower at Sunterra Greenhouse in Alberta. Gabriel shares his fascinating 18-year journey from the flower industry in Colombia to large-scale field crops and eventually to greenhouses in Canada. He speaks candidly about the ups and downs of working in both food and cannabis cultivation, the importance of adaptability, and why growing both plants and people is at the heart of his passion.

    You’ll hear Gabriel’s perspective on the challenges and realities growers face—like juggling high-tech systems with hands-on experience, the importance of strong teamwork, and the never-ending need to stay alert in a fast-paced agricultural environment. This episode offers invaluable insights into the human side of greenhouse management, highlighting not just technical know-how, but also the role that leadership and mentorship play in building successful teams.

    Whether you’re an experienced grower, new to the industry, or simply curious about what it takes to run a thriving greenhouse, you’ll find plenty of practical wisdom and inspiration in this conversation. Let’s dive in!

    Key Takeaways

    00:00 From Tractors to Greenhouses

    06:10 Passion for Food and Cannabis

    09:53 Adapting and Improvising in Greenhouses

    13:29 Striving for Excellence, Not Perfection

    16:55 Mindful Data Collection Matters

    18:34 Clear Communication in Agriculture

    22:29 Consultants vs. Plant Scientists

    25:59 Keep It Simple, Trust Manual Data

    29:53 Plant Growth and Weather Forecast

    31:18 Plant Care's Changing Triangle

    33:43 Emphasizing Education in Horticulture

    39:04 Training and Growth Process

    40:32 Canada's Foreign Worker Program

    46:13 Greenhouse Cable Breakdown Fix

    49:15 Leadership in the Greenhouse

    50:11 Family Distance and Stress Management

    Memorable Quotes“I always say, besides growing the crops, I like to grow people. I think I did well with my team—they’re now thriving here in Canada, in Europe, and the US. That’s what I keep from my time with cannabis: not only the plants, but the good connections and the growth of people.”“When you train someone, you need to show them the whys. It’s not just about checking a box or putting a number on a piece of paper. If you understand why each step matters, you catch problems before they happen and build a stronger team.”“In a greenhouse, the moment you get comfortable, something happens to shake things up. You need to train people to adapt, improvise, and always keep moving. Nothing stops—everything needs to continue, and that’s what makes this work so engaging.”Connect With Luis-Gabriel

    Luis-Gabriel's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-gabriel-forero-4b434541/

    Connect with Sunterra

    Website: https://www.sunterragreenhouse.com/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sunterragreenhouse

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunterra-greenhouse/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunterragreenhouse/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunterragreenhouse/

    Resources Mentioned

    Philips (horticultural lighting): https://www.philips.com/agriculture

    Bayer (crop science): https://www.bayer.com/en/crop-science

    Connect With Us

    GSS LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verticalfarmingpodcast

    GSS Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/direct/inbox/

    Subscribe to our newsletters!

    AgTech Digest - https://agtechdigest.com

    The Indoor Farmer - https://www.indoorverticalfarm.com/

    Horti-Gen Insights - https://www.hortigeninsights.com/

    🎙️🎙️🎙️

    Podcast Production and Marketing by FullCast

    Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/

    Mentioned in this episode:

    2025 Precision Ag Report by iGrowNews

    2025 Precision Ag Report

    2025 Precision Ag Report by iGrowNews

    2025 Precision Ag Report

    55 min
  • Welcome to Greenhouse Success Stories

    Tune in every week as we share conversations with growers, operators, and innovators from around the world, providing insight into what’s working in their greenhouses. We discuss firsthand experiences and provide insights into how these farms are succeeding and thriving. Hosted by Founder of Little Greenhouse That Could, Trina Semenchuk.

    1 min

About Greenhouse Success Stories: Commercial Growers on What Works

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Greenhouse Success Stories brings you weekly conversations with the growers, operators and innovators running commercial greenhouses around the world: which crops pay, how they manage energy, climate…