Great Lakes Greenhouses

What Great Lakes Greenhouses does

Great Lakes Greenhouses is a privately held, family-owned controlled-environment agriculture producer headquartered in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1983 on five acres, the company has grown into the largest grower, shipper, and packer of hydroponic cucumbers in North America, operating a contiguous 118-acre single-site greenhouse facility. The product portfolio centers on conventional and organic English cucumbers and mini cucumbers, and has expanded into organic bell peppers, organic tomatoes-on-the-vine, organic beefsteak and cherry-on-vine tomatoes, and organic mini eggplant under the Great Lakes Organics sub-brand. Beyond produce, the company offers private label programs that let retailers market greenhouse vegetables under their own brands.

The technical stack is built around hydroponic cultivation with extensive process integration: in-house seed propagation and grafting, CO2 atmosphere enhancement, LED lighting, a 5.5+ MW on-site cogeneration system, flood floor irrigation, UV water sterilization, a nutrient leach collection and recirculation system, biological pest control using parasitic wasps and beneficial insects, and bee-assisted pollination. The company employs 350+ staff including a full-time biologist, in-house entomologist, electricians, IT professionals, and fabricators, and holds a portfolio of certifications including PrimusGFS, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project, Pro-Cert, ECOCERT, and Canada Organic.

The business model is B2B and quote-based, with no consumer-facing pricing. Great Lakes sells directly to major grocery retailers across North America under both its own brand and private label programs, shipping in temperature-controlled refrigerated trucks the same day produce is harvested, packed, and shipped. Named retail partners include Sobeys and FreshCo (the latter part of the Empire Company group), and the company is a first-time exhibitor at the 2025 SEPC Southern Exposure Produce Show in Orlando as it deepens US retail engagement. Revenue, ownership structure beyond family control, and contract values are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Great Lakes Greenhouses

Legal name

Great Lakes Greenhouses INC.

Website

https://greatlakesg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Great Lakes Greenhouses is a family-owned Canadian producer and the largest grower, shipper, and packer of hydroponic cucumbers in North America, operating a 118-acre single-site facility in Leamington, Ontario, supplying major grocery retailers including Sobeys and FreshCo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Greenhouse Produce

NAICS

Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens) (AFAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydroponic / Controlled-Environment Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAM), Cucurbit & Melon Farming (Cucumbers, Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe) (AFAGADAF)

Keywords

• Hydroponic cucumber production
• Greenhouse vegetable growing
• Organic produce supply
• Private label produce
• Controlled environment agriculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Leamington

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce Sales - Retail: Direct sales of hydroponic cucumbers, mini cucumbers, and organic produce (peppers, tomatoes, eggplants) to major grocery retailers including Sobeys and FreshCo stores across North America. Products sold under Great Lakes brand as well as private label programs.
2. Private Label Programs: Partnership with retailers to provide consistent product under retailer brand names. Direct farm-to-retailer model eliminating third-party handlers. Allows same-day harvest, pack, and ship capabilities for maximum freshness.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Great Lakes Greenhouses grows, packs, and ships hydroponic cucumbers (English and mini), organic bell peppers, organic tomatoes (TOV, beefsteak, and cherry on the vine), and organic mini eggplant from a single 118-acre controlled-environment facility in Leamington, Ontario. The company supplies these products year-round under its own brand and through private label programs to major grocery retailers across North America via a direct farm-to-retailer model.

Product overview

Great Lakes Greenhouses is a family-owned greenhouse produce company operating as a single unified product portfolio centered on hydroponic vegetables. The core offerings include conventional and organic cucumbers (English cucumbers and mini cucumbers), organic peppers (bell peppers), organic tomatoes (TOV, beefsteak, and cherry on the vine), and organic mini eggplant. All products are non-GMO certified, with organic items meeting USDA Organic, Pro-Cert, and ECOCERT standards. The company also offers private labeling services for retail partners and publishes recipes using their produce. Production takes place at a 118-acre state-of-the-art facility in Leamington, Ontario, with year-round growing capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Great Lakes Organics: Organic produce line including organic tomatoes, bell peppers, mini eggplant, and other organic vegetables.
• GLG Organics

Products and services

• Hydroponic Cucumbers (English Cucumbers) Year-round grown premium seedless hydroponic English cucumbers sold in conventional and organic varieties to retail grocery and foodservice customers across North America.
• Mini Cucumbers Easy and accessible snack-sized conventional hydroponic cucumbers available in multiple pack sizes for retail and foodservice customers.
• Organic Bell Peppers Organic bell peppers with firm texture and sweet taste, available in multiple colors as bulk or flow-wrap packaging for retail and foodservice.
• Organic Tomatoes on the Vine (TOV) Organic vine-ripened tomatoes optimized for ripening with premium firmness and exceptional taste for retail and foodservice customers.
• Organic Beefsteak Tomatoes Organic beefsteak tomatoes sold in 15lb bulk packaging for retail and foodservice customers.
• Organic Cherry on the Vine Tomatoes Organic cherry tomatoes grown on the vine and sold in 10lb bulk packaging for retail and foodservice customers.
• Organic Mini Eggplant Organic mini eggplants with smooth and rich taste, used as a versatile meat-alternative ingredient in retail and foodservice applications.
• Private Label Produce Program Private label program that lets retailers offer Great Lakes Greenhouses' hydroponic cucumbers and organic produce under their own brands, with same-day harvest, pack, and ship fulfillment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 124-144% yield increase with extended photoperiod LED lighting
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SobeyscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSobeys is a major Canadian grocery retailer and the recipient of the 'Best Local Produce Supply Partner' award given to Great Lakes Greenhouses. Great Lakes products including cucumbers, mini cucumbers, and organic peppers are available in Sobeys stores. This is a core distribution partnership representing significant retail placement.
• FreshCocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFreshCo is a Canadian grocery retailer chain offering Great Lakes Greenhouses products including cucumbers and organic peppers in their stores. Great Lakes products received recognition as 'Best Local Produce Supply Partner' from the Sobeys family including FreshCo locations.
• SEPC (Southern Exposure Produce Show)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreat Lakes Greenhouses is a first-time exhibitor at the Southern Exposure Produce Show, an annual industry event bringing together produce professionals. The show provides an opportunity to connect with industry leaders, showcase products, meet new and existing partners.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers: Industry association representing Ontario greenhouse vegetable growers including cucumber, tomato and pepper producers. Relevant ecosystem reference for Great Lakes' competitive set, regulatory environment, and marketing channels.

Direct peers

• Mastronardi Produce: One of North America's largest greenhouse vegetable growers (Sunset, Backyard Farms brands) operating in Kingsville/Leamington, Ontario. Directly comparable to Great Lakes Greenhouses in hydroponic cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes, retail private label, and integrated greenhouse/packing/shipping model.
• Mucci Farms: Leamington, Ontario-based greenhouse grower of cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and strawberries supplying major North American retailers. Closely comparable to Great Lakes in product mix, growing region, scale, and direct-to-retailer GTM.
• Pure Flavor: Multi-category greenhouse grower (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) headquartered in Leamington, Ontario. Direct competitor with overlapping product portfolio, similar certifications, and shared retail customers across North America.
• NatureFresh Farms: Leamington, Ontario greenhouse operator producing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and strawberries under controlled-environment agriculture. Comparable in scale, technology adoption, and retail customer base in North America.
• Village Farms International: Public greenhouse grower (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, strawberries) with operations in Canada, US, and Mexico. Comparable product mix and hydroponic greenhouse model, with broader geographic footprint.
• Windset Farms: Western Canada (BC)-based greenhouse grower of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and lettuce serving North American retailers. Comparable in controlled-environment agriculture, product categories, and direct retail supply model.
• Houweling's Group: North American greenhouse operator (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries) with facilities in Canada and the US. Comparable hydroponic greenhouse model and retail/wholesale customer base.

Emerging players

• NatureSweet: Largest greenhouse tomato brand in North America with growing controlled-environment category overlap (cherry/grape tomatoes). Comparable in premium branding, retailer relationships, and greenhouse production model though narrower SKU set.

Regional players

• Greenhouse Juice Co. Canadian packaged cold-pressed juice and produce brand that sources greenhouse vegetables. Tangentially comparable as a Canadian greenhouse-produce downstream user though operates in consumer products rather than growing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/greatlakesg
• Xx.com/GLGreenhouse

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Lakes Greenhouses