No, the storefront in St. Agatha is owned by a Pfenning’s family member and we are one of the store’s organic produce suppliers but it is a completely separate business!
Yes! Pfenning’s is currently owned and operated by the 2nd generation, with the 3rd generation working alongside them to learn the ropes. Learn more about the farm today and the history of the farm!
Not all produce that we sell is grown in our fields. In order to provide our customers with a full selection of organic produce, we also offer produce from a network of other local and import organic growers.
It may not look like much is happening when looking out over our snow-covered fields in the wintertime, but looks can be deceiving! At our main facility, there’s still a buzz of activity. At the end of harvest season we fill our storage areas with reliable crops we count on to see us through the winter months, such as carrots, beets, potatoes, onions and more. Our production team packs them from storage bins into bags or boxes regularly which allows us to keep a sharp eye on quality. Our import program is vital to our operations. It allows us to provide a wide assortment of organic fruits and vegetables, and it keeps us going throughout the winter, supporting the employment of over 40 year-round staff. Our trucks deliver to a wide variety of customers every day.
We are constantly on the lookout for more environmentally friendly packaging options. We used to use paper tags and rubber bands, but in order to comply with labeling regulations intended to manage food safety requirements and the need for differentiation at retail, we’ve had to switch to more durable tags that will hold up as they travel through the supply chain. All the poly bags we use are recyclable, and the netting for our onion bags is even biodegradable! Stay tuned as we continually strive for more environmentally friendly packaging options without compromising food safety or product quality. Read more about our commitment to sustainability!
OCO stands for Organic Council of Ontario (OCO). The Organic Council of Ontario is the voice for organics in Ontario. OCO supports the Ontario organic movement to thrive and grow by working on research, data, educational resources, marketing, and advocacy. The organic industry is unique in that it includes a variety of stakeholders – from organic growers of crops and livestock to organic product manufacturers and input suppliers. Encompassed under the term organic is a diversity of product types, farm sizes and business models and OCO represents and defends all of their interests. OCO acts like a marketing board for organics in Ontario, but does not have the consistent funding mechanism that a marketing board has. In 2015, Pfenning’s signed on to the organic voluntary check-off program to collect and remit a 0.1% fee on all invoices and purchase orders (and matching PO contributions). When you gain your organic certification, you are automatically made a basic member of OCO. Basic membership provides you with board representation and other benefits. Check out www.organiccouncil.ca or contact info@organiccouncil.ca to learn more.
