Our Commitment To Food Safety
519-845-3482
Zekvelds understands the importance of gaining
and keeping the trust of our customers. We
carefully follow Health Canada’s guidelines when
growing the food you eat. Over the last 20+
years, we have added many new initiatives to
support our commitment to food safety,
resources management, and productivity for our
fruit and vegetables. The following are growing
systems we have added to our farm:
•
Trellis system:
In 2017 we established our first trellis system in an apple orchard. This
system is a network of wires running through larger posts. The tree is tied
to the wires and grows tall and narrow. Trees are planted much closer
together allowing for more yield per acre. The structure of the tree also
allows for more efficient use of sunlight and better coverage of foliar
nutrients when applied. This grows a superior quality apple and reduces
annual growing costs.
•
Haygrove tunnels:
These open-ended, fabric-covered structures combat disease
by sheltering plants from rain. Plants can be grown in the soil
or in pots. We have ten tunnels that cover 2.5 acres growing
mainly strawberries and raspberries. Some of our
strawberries are grown in these tunnels on what is called a
table top system. Benefits include fewer required crop
protectants and a longer harvest season.
•
Drip irrigation:
In the past we used a lot of overhead irrigation. To optimize
water use we now employ drip irrigation and smaller
overhead sprinklers. Drip irrigation uses small plastic
underground drip hose, bringing water straight to the root
where it is needed, and in the amounts required. This reduces
water runoff, leaching, and evaporation. Liquid fertilizer is
also added to this water to feed the plant in the most
efficient way.
•
Bees!:
A local company has maintained bees on our farm since 2001.
These welcome guests are the prime pollinators for our
crops. But they also pollinate other plants that are the food
source for animals. So in effect, we’re helping the entire food
chain. And we sell the honey in the store.
Our Commitment
To Food Safety
Zekvelds understands the importance of
gaining and keeping the trust of our
customers. We carefully follow Health
Canada’s guidelines when growing the
food you eat. Over the last 20+ years,
we have added many new initiatives to support our
commitment to food safety, resources management, and
productivity for our fruit and vegetables. The following are
growing systems we have added to our farm:
•
Trellis system:
In 2017 we established our first trellis
system in an apple orchard. This
system is a network of wires running
through larger posts. The tree is tied
to the wires and grows tall and
narrow. Trees are planted much
closer together allowing for more
yield per acre. The structure of the
tree also allows for more efficient
use of sunlight and better coverage
of foliar nutrients when applied. This
grows a superior quality apple and
reduces annual growing costs.
•
Haygrove tunnels:
These open-ended, fabric-covered
structures combat disease by
sheltering plants from rain. Plants
can be grown in the soil or in pots.
We have ten tunnels that cover 2.5
acres growing mainly strawberries
and raspberries. Some of our strawberries are grown in these
tunnels on what is called a table top system. Benefits include
fewer required crop protectants and a longer harvest season.
•
Drip irrigation:
In the past we used a lot of overhead
irrigation. To optimize water use we
now employ drip irrigation and
smaller overhead sprinklers. Drip
irrigation uses small plastic
underground drip hose, bringing
water straight to the root where it is
needed, and in the amounts required. This reduces water
runoff, leaching, and evaporation. Liquid fertilizer is also
added to this water to feed the plant in the most efficient
way.
•
Bees!:
A local company has maintained bees
on our farm since 2001. These
welcome guests are the prime
pollinators for our crops. But they
also pollinate other plants that are
the food source for animals. So in
effect, we’re helping the entire food chain. And we sell the
honey in the store.
Our Commitment To Food Safety
Zekvelds
understands the
importance of
gaining and keeping
the trust of our customers. We carefully
follow Health Canada’s guidelines when
growing the food you eat. Over the last
20+ years, we have added many new
initiatives to support our commitment to
food safety, resources management, and
productivity for our fruit and vegetables.
The following are growing systems we
have added to our farm:
•
Trellis system:
In 2017 we
established our
first trellis system
in an apple
orchard. This
system is a
network of wires
running through
larger posts. The
tree is tied to the
wires and grows
tall and narrow. Trees are planted
much closer together allowing for
more yield per acre. The structure of
the tree also allows for more efficient
use of sunlight and better coverage of
foliar nutrients when applied. This
grows a superior quality apple and
reduces annual growing costs.
•
Haygrove tunnels:
These open-
ended, fabric-
covered structures
combat disease
by sheltering
plants from rain. Plants can be grown in
the soil or in pots. We have ten tunnels
that cover 2.5 acres growing mainly
strawberries and raspberries. Some of
our strawberries are grown in these
tunnels on what is called a table top
system. Benefits include fewer required
crop protectants and a longer harvest
season.
•
Drip irrigation:
In the past we
used a lot of
overhead
irrigation. To
optimize water
use we now
employ drip irrigation and smaller
overhead sprinklers. Drip irrigation
uses small plastic underground drip
hose, bringing water straight to the
root where it is needed, and in the
amounts required. This reduces water
runoff, leaching, and evaporation.
Liquid fertilizer is also added to this
water to feed the plant in the most
efficient way.
•
Bees!:
A local company
has maintained
bees on our farm
since 2001. These
welcome guests
are the prime pollinators for our crops.
But they also pollinate other plants that
are the food source for animals. So in
effect, we’re helping the entire food
chain. And we sell the honey in the
store.
