It’s a platinum year for Mastronardi Produce, the fourth-generation, family-owned company that pioneered commercial greenhouse growing in North America. The greenhouse leader reached its platinum anniversary in May, after 70 years in business.

“My great-grandfather, Armando, immigrated to North America in the 1920s to our hometown, Leamington, Ontario, where he worked in farming before earning enough money to buy his own farm,” says Paul Mastronardi, president and chief executive officer of Mastronardi Produce. “My grandfather Umberto, who learned of greenhouse technology on a trip to Europe, pioneered the first commercial greenhouse in North America, and today we are the leading greenhouse operator in North America.”

Founded in Kingsville, Ontario, by Umberto Mastronardi in 1954, Mastronardi Produce is a leader in commercial greenhouse growing in North America. Paul’s father, Don Mastronardi, built the first 50-acre, super greenhouse operation in North America in 1995.

Today, Mastronardi Produce is supported by over 3,500 employees in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Netherlands, banded together under what the company calls its “Flavor Nation.”

Paul says the family continues Umberto’s passion, ensuring sustainability is top of mind, blending technology with tradition and growing world-class, non-GMO produce.

“As the true greenhouse pioneer, our Grandpa Umberto Mastronardi’s vision in the 1940s was to provide people with incredible-tasting, fresh, greenhouse-grown vegetables all year long,” says Paul.

Mastronardi Produce grows and markets products under the Sunset, Backyard Farms, BerryWorld and Queen of Greens brands, producing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, berries and lettuce.

Adding to the cause for celebration, Mastronardi Produce is a 2024 winner of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation; this is the 15th consecutive win for Mastronardi Produce in Deloitte’s distinguished business awards program.

“There is plenty to celebrate this year, and we are so excited to recognize these milestones with our employees, our partners, and the community,” says Paul.

Mastronardi Produce plans to celebrate both the awards and its platinum anniversary across its global network of employees.