Platinum Premium Produce originally started as Platinum Produce Partnership in 2003 and focused its production on growing tomatoes within the original 30 acre Poly greenhouse. After a few years of operation, in 2006 the ownership changed to its present state and is now family owned with Father (Gerard) and Sons (Tim and Pat). The Verbeek Family has extensive experience in farming with over 1,600 acres of farmland in Lambton-Kent. With the change in ownership, the greenhouse also changed the focus of the operation from growing tomatoes, to growing sweet bell peppers.
To present date, the greenhouse has expanded from the original 30 acres to a total of 70 acres, with expansions in both 2013 and 2017. Although the original greenhouse was a “Poly” house (named for the material in which the outer wall and roof covering is composed of), the two recent expansions have been constructed using a High-Tech Venlo glass greenhouse design. It is considered to be the most advanced high-tech and energy efficient design that is available today.
Within the most recent expansion, Platinum Produce not only added acreage for the main production area, but they also added a 2.5 acre propagation section in which will allow them to be completely self-sufficient from the seeding stage, all the way to the harvest and packing stage. This aspect of the expansion will not only allow Platinum Produce to increase the quality of their plants, but it will also enable them to enhance their biosecurity. In today’s market place, biosecurity is paramount as every effort is made to reduce and control the possible threats of pests and diseases from even entering the greenhouse. It is just one of the many components that Platinum Produce takes pride in executing within their operation and it helps make it possible to grow their premium produce.
The completed size of the greenhouse has allowed Platinum Produce to diversify the produce that now goes to market. With 20 acres of sweet bell peppers, 30 acres of beefsteak tomatoes and 17.5 acres of our brand new TOVs (tomatoes-on-the-vine) it allows us to meet the ever changing demands of consumers.
After the most recent expansion, Platinum Produce employs approximately 160 people within its facility. Platinum Produce takes great pride in being able to employ so many hard working people, and they look forward for the opportunity to be able to add to that number in the future.
Platinum Produce is proud to be a supporting member of the Chatham-Kent community, and strives to ensure that consumers have access to fresh local produce while it is in season. If you find yourself in the area between April-November, you can purchase their sweet bell peppers, beefsteak and TOV tomatoes directly from their roadside stand.