Pfenning’s Organic Vegetable Farm has been proudly growing certified organic vegetables since 1981. Situated between New Hamburg and Baden on some of the most fertile soil in the world, the farm now stretches over 700 acres. Best known for their delicious carrots, they also grow over 40 other varieties of vegetables such as leafy greens, brassicas, squash and root veggies that grow best in their region.  

Local Hub for Ontario Organic Growers

Besides managing farm operations, they also serve as a hub for an expansive network of local certified organic growers. Produce is purchased in bulk and packed under the Pfenning brand or the growers’ own label according to their preference. This mutually beneficial partnership allows smaller growers access to a wider market they otherwise would not have, and in turn, allows Pfenning’s to increase their offerings.

Their focus is local first, but the year-round and seasonal import program fills in the gaps for items that are out of season or do not grow here at all. This program, as well as packing out local storage veg into the winter months, keeps a core group of about 45 employees busy throughout the year. This number grows to 140 in peak growing season and harvest time. The teams consist of Jamaican migrant workers, local seasonal employees, students and more.

Industry Leader: Shaping Organic Standards from the Beginning

Since 1981 when the Pfenning family arrived in Canada, they have been unwavering in their commitment to the organic industry. Wilhelm Pfenning, the patriarch of the family and founder of the business, was involved in the initial creation of the organic standards from the very beginning.

As the industry evolved, so did the farm, expanding from the original 100 acre family farm into the 700 acre, multi-faceted business it is today. 

Above & Beyond

Their commitment to the principles of organic extends beyond the food they grow. With every decision they make, the present and future impact of their actions on the environment and communities are carefully considered. 

Environment

It all starts with the soil. Nurturing it with compost, cover crops, and crop rotation ensures it stays full of life. Healthy soil is full of tiny, naturally-occurring microorganisms & fungi which help direct nutrients into the crops, in addition to helping the soil retain water and reduce runoff. When the soil is healthy, so are the plants.

The health of surrounding ecosystems also plays a pivotal role, and the farm operates with the balance of nature in mind. Natural areas on the farm are conserved and enhanced in different ways. Fencerows are added and reinforced to provide habitat for birds and beneficial insects, in an effort to prevent wind erosion and runoff.  Additionally, two restoration and renaturalization projects are underway that are converting frequently flooded fields back into the habitats they once were. These projects provide homes to wildlife and beneficial insects, serve as a natural stormwater management system, further enhance the local ecosystem, and more.

Sustainability and land stewardship are top priorities and a way of life. We must be able to meet our needs without compromising the ability of present and future generations to meet theirs. Every operation on the farm has this goal in mind.

Read more about Pfenning’s sustainability efforts here.

Feeding Communities

Food loss is a problem many farmers grapple with. Too much edible food is lost due to industry standards that are based on appearance alone. There has been a positive shift to making a difference and reducing unnecessary waste, but there is still a long way to go. To help this shift, Pfenning’s has partnered with Second Harvest Food Rescue, which gets “ugly” food to hungry bellies. In the first year of this partnership, they rescued and donated over 300,000lbs of edible food.  Pfenning’s also donates weekly to local food banks.

Advocacy

In 2005, the Pfenning family turned to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) for the first time. The farm was growing in scale and they were struggling to find skilled local workers to return reliably season after season. In order to meet this need, they turned to the TFWP.  

Currently, the farm employs approximately 40 migrant workers from Jamaica each year. They usually arrive just in time for spring planting, and stay until after harvest is finished. They come here under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), which is a branch of the TFWP.

There are many benefits to the TFWP, but there are also systemic injustices that occur within this system. Pfenning’s is committed to ending these injustices within the farming community. They participate in the NFU Migrant Workers subcommittee, media interviews, and engagement with Members of Parliament. You can read more about their advocacy work here.

Pfenning’s has also been an active advocate within general farming and organic industries.  Long-standing members of the Organic Council of Ontario, the Canadian Organic Trade Association, Canadian Organic Growers, the National Farmers Union and more, Pfenning’s is a constant presence in the pursuit of lasting, positive change.  

Respect and care is at the heart of everything they do. Respect for the environment that sustains us all, for each other, and for generations that will follow. 

Where to Find Pfenning’s Produce

They are a wholesale operation and therefore not open to the public. Their produce can be found all across Southern Ontario in grocery stores and food box companies.  For find somewhere near you, use their Store Locator.

Food creators use their produce too! Check out this list of restaurants, juiceries and more that make all sorts of delicious and nourishing treats with Pfenning’s produce.

Find them online:

Website: pfenningsfarms.ca

Facebook: @Pfenning’s Organic Farm

X: @pfenningsfarm

Instagram: @pfenningsfarm

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/pfenningsfarms

The Canadian organic sector is made up of several bodies, policies, documents, and more, all of which play a role in ensuring Canada Organic certification is something organic stakeholders can put their trust in. To shed some light on this complex system, we’ve broken it all down:

The COR is the organic certification system that regulates the distribution and marketing of organic products in Canada. Previously created under the Organic Products Regulations, the regime is currently outlined in the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, which regulates all parties that play a role in the certification of organic products. The regulations apply to any organic product that crosses provincial or national borders or bears the Canada Organic Logo. Because only products that cross borders are covered by the COR, provinces may create their own regulations for intra-provincial trade. In this case, enforcement may be a shared jurisdiction between the province and the CFIA.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

The CFIA is the authority that oversees the organic sector. It is responsible for verifying and enforcing the regulations set out in federal policy. This includes the designation and accreditation of two enforcement bodies: Conformity Verification Bodies and Certifying Bodies, whose roles are outlined in the COR operating manual. Additionally, along with the Canadian Organic Trade Association, it establishes organic equivalency agreements with other countries so that Canadian organics can be traded and regulated across federal borders, encouraging trade and growing the organic sector. Canada currently has agreements with the European Union, United States, Japan, Switzerland, and Costa Rica.

Conformity Verification Bodies (3)

CVBs assess applications from certifying bodies and make recommendations to the CFIA about which ones should be accredited. There are three CVBs designated by the CFIA.

Certifying Bodies (20)

CBs ensure that organic producers, processors, and other operators adhere to Canadian Organic Standards (COS). They issue certificates for organic products and companies and ensure that labelling and packaging meet the Standards. They are accredited by the CFIA to issue organic certification. There are seven active certifying bodies in Ontario and many more around the world.

Operators

Anyone who produces organic products must comply with the COS, as well as other Canadian legislation that applies to food production. Those looking to be certified must apply to a CB. This can cost anywhere between $300 and $2,000, depending on farm size and certifying body.

Canadian Organic Standards (COS)

The COS are a set of industry rules that outline the principles of organic production, and are formally referenced in federal regulations. The COS are comprised of the principles and standards document, as well as a permitted substances list. Though they are owned by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), the federal government organization that oversees national standards and their review processes, they are written in collaboration with organic industry stakeholders and renewed every five years.

Organic Standards Interpretation Committee

The SIC is an advisory body created by the CFIA and its industry counterpart, the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC). Made up of appointed members from across the organic sector, it helps interpret the COS by providing guidance to the CFIA in its enforcement of the Standards, and provides input to CVBs and CBs as well through the OFC website. The SIC also receives feedback from operators, CVBs and CBs through question and comment processes.

CGSB Committee on Organic Agriculture (Technical Committee)

The COS must be reviewed by the industry every five years, a process overseen by the CGSB’s Standards Committee on Organic Agriculture, also called the Technical Committee. It is made up of industry experts representing various interests within the organic sector, including producers, consumers, regulatory groups, and more.

Organic Federation of Canada

The OFC is an organization working on behalf of the Canadian organic industry. Its members are the provincial organic organizations from each province. It coordinates the Standards review every five years. The OFC accepts proposals for modifications to the Standards from industry stakeholders and forms working groups that make recommendations to the CGSB Technical Committee.  They also oversee the organic science research cluster funding in coordination with the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada.

Working Groups

During the of standards review, working groups function as links between organic sector members and the CGSB. Working groups are organized by the OFC, which gathers petitions for modifications in order to set the scope of each working group. The working groups then debate the issues brought forth in the petitions, and make recommendations to the CGSB’s Technical Committee.