Tigchelaar Berry Farms

What Tigchelaar Berry Farms does

Tigchelaar Berry Farms is a fourth-generation, family-owned berry producer headquartered in Vineland Station, Ontario, operating across multiple sites in the Hamilton-Niagara region. Founded in 1940 by Clarence Tigchelaar after immigrating from the Netherlands, the company grows fresh strawberries and raspberries in Niagara soil, harvesting day-neutral strawberries on raised beds from May through October and raspberries from July through August. CanadaGAP certification and a vertically integrated grow-pick-pack-deliver model support food-safety claims and same-day or next-day delivery to retail and food-service accounts.

The company's go-to-market combines a wholesale channel — supplying major grocery chains, independent grocers, restaurants, farmers' markets, and farm stands across Ontario and the GTA through its own delivery fleet — with two direct-to-consumer channels: Pick-Your-Own strawberry experiences at the Jordan Road site (running approximately three weeks in June) and The Red Barn Farm Market and Bakery in Vineland (opened 2013), which sells locally grown produce, baked goods, and frozen yogurt. Wholesale pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; Pick-Your-Own was listed at $4/litre for end-of-season picking in 2025.

Ownership remains entirely within the Tigchelaar family, with third-generation brothers Dan and Jeff Tigchelaar as co-owners and fourth-generation Aaron Tigchelaar (Sales Manager) and Matt Tigchelaar (Head Grower) in operational roles since 2015. Recent capital investments include a one-acre high-tunnel greenhouse constructed in 2023 alongside the introduction of long-cane raspberries. The company has not disclosed revenue, raised external capital, or engaged in M&A.

Name

Tigchelaar Berry Farms

Legal name

Tigchelaar Berry Farms

Website

https://tigchelaarberries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tigchelaar Berry Farms is a fourth-generation, family-owned berry farm in Ontario that grows day-neutral strawberries and raspberries for wholesale grocery accounts, Pick-Your-Own experiences, and its Red Barn Farm Market retail store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh berry production

NAICS

Strawberry Farming (111333)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Berry Farming (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Cranberries) (AFAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Greenhouse Fruit & Berry Production (Strawberries, Specialty Fruits) (AFAGAHAB), Berry Sorting & Packing Facilities (AFAOAGAD), Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

Keywords

• Strawberry farming
• Fresh berry production
• Pick-your-own farms
• Wholesale berry distribution
• Farm market retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Vineland Station

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fresh Strawberry Wholesale: Wholesale distribution of fresh strawberries to major grocery chains, independent grocers, restaurants, and farm stands throughout Ontario. Strawberries are hand-packed and delivered directly from the farm through the company's own delivery fleet.
2. Pick-Your-Own: Direct consumer sales through on-farm strawberry picking experiences. Customers pay per litre of berries picked, with the season typically lasting about three weeks in June. No admission charge.
3. Frozen Berry Products: Wholesale frozen strawberries and raspberries available year-round, produced with the same care and standards as fresh products.
4. The Red Barn Farm Market Retail: The Red Barn Farm Market and Bakery (opened 2013) offers locally grown produce, fresh baking, frozen yogurt, and freshly picked strawberries directly to consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tigchelaar Berry Farms grows, picks, packs, and delivers Niagara-grown fresh strawberries (May–October) and raspberries (July–August), along with year-round frozen strawberries and raspberries for wholesale. The farm sells through direct wholesale to grocery retailers and restaurants, on-farm Pick-Your-Own experiences, and The Red Barn Farm Market and Bakery.

Product overview

Tigchelaar Berry Farms operates as a family-run agricultural business offering fresh strawberries (May-October) and raspberries (July-August) grown in Niagara soil. The company sells wholesale to retailers (offering both fresh and frozen berries) and directly to consumers through pick-your-own experiences and The Red Barn Farm Market and Bakery retail location. The integrated business model combines vertical integration (grow, pick, pack, and deliver) with direct-to-consumer experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Red Barn Farm Market and Bakery: Farm market and bakery operated by the Tigchelaar family, offering locally grown produce, fresh baking, frozen yogurt, and Tigchelaar strawberries.

Products and services

• Fresh Strawberries Sun-ripened, hand-picked strawberries grown in Niagara soil, available May through October. Berries are picked at peak ripeness, quickly cooled, and shipped fresh daily to wholesale and direct customers.
• Fresh Raspberries Fresh raspberries available July through August, grown in the Niagara region under the same care and quality standards as the strawberry operations.
• Frozen Strawberries Wholesale frozen strawberries produced to the same quality standards as fresh berries, providing year-round supply for retailers and food service customers.
• Frozen Raspberries Wholesale frozen raspberries providing year-round availability alongside frozen strawberries for retail and food service customers.
• Pick-Your-Own Strawberries Customer-operated strawberry picking experience at the Jordan, Niagara farm during a roughly three-week picking season in June, with no admission charge and pricing per litre of berries picked.
• The Red Barn Farm Market and Bakery On-farm retail market and bakery in Vineland, Ontario, operated by Tigchelaar family members, offering locally grown produce, fresh baking, frozen yogurt, and freshly picked strawberries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Same-day or next-day delivery to stores through company fleet
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Naturipe Farms: Major North American grower-shipper of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries selling into grocery retail. Comparable as a large-scale berry supplier competing for the same wholesale grocery shelf space.
• Driscoll's: Largest global berry producer and marketer with year-round strawberry, raspberry, and other berry supply across North America. Comparable as the broad incumbent competitor that grocery buyers benchmark against, but operates at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Sun-Maid Growers of California: Long-established cooperative producer of berries and other fruits with national distribution into grocery. Comparable as a large, established fruit supplier competing for grocery shelf and freezer space.

Regional players

• Hothouse (Ontario greenhouse vegetable/berry grower): Ontario-based greenhouse producer of tomatoes, peppers, and other produce using protected-cultivation technology. Comparable as a regional Ontario protected-cultivation operator with overlapping technology approach (high-tunnel/greenhouse) and similar produce retail channels.

Direct peers

• Whittamore's Farm: Greater Toronto Area farm with Pick-Your-Own strawberries and raspberries and a substantial farm market. Comparable as an Ontario PYO berry operator with retail expansion and family-run operations.
• Springridge Farm: Ontario farm known for Pick-Your-Own strawberries and raspberries and a well-developed farm market/bakery. Directly comparable as a multi-channel Ontario berry farm with farm market as a consumer-facing anchor.
• Barrie Hill Farms: Ontario-based family farm operating Pick-Your-Own strawberries, raspberries, and other berries with on-site farm market retail. Highly comparable as a multi-generational Ontario berry farm with overlapping GTM channels (PYO + wholesale + farm retail).
• Pingle's Farm Market: Ontario family farm offering Pick-Your-Own strawberries, raspberries, and seasonal produce plus a farm market. Directly comparable business model combining on-farm experience, retail, and wholesale within a similar geography.
• Downey's Strawberry Farm: Ontario strawberry farm offering Pick-Your-Own and wholesale supply across the Greater Toronto Area. Comparable as a regional strawberry grower with overlapping PYO and wholesale channels.

Others

• Ontario Apple Growers: Industry association representing Ontario apple and tender fruit growers, including farm retail and PYO operations. Comparable as an industry-body context for Ontario fruit producers operating PYO and farm retail, useful for understanding the regional competitive landscape Tigchelaar operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/tigchchelaarberryfarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tigchelaar-berry-farms

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Tigchelaar Berry Farms