Holland Marsh

Ontario’s vegetable basket.

The Holland Marsh is one of two Specialty Crop Areas in Ontario and the producer of a significant percentage of the vegetables grown in the province. At over 7,000 acres, the region consists of some of the most fertile soil in Canada that supports the growth of a wide variety of plants. The most popular crops grown in the Marsh are onions and carrots, with around 35% of croplands being devoted to each of these two vegetables for a total of 70-80% of the Marsh’s farmland. Over 66% of Ontario’s celery is grown in the Greenbelt (primarily in the Holland Marsh), followed by cauliflower at 47%, and lettuce, spinach, Chinese cabbage and carrot at 25%.

There are approximately 100 farms located in the Holland Marsh, generating millions of dollars in annual revenue and creating employment for agricultural growers, packagers, and processors. Annually, the Holland Marsh has a total economic impact of around $1 billion, including farm gate value, packaging, and transportation, making the Marsh a key element in the agricultural economies of both the province and the entire country.

The Holland Marsh is a unique and prosperous component of Ontario’s agriculture and the source of a significant percentage of the produce consumed in the province. This highly concentrated area, farmed by a skilled, specialized group of growers, has all of the attributes required to support food security in Ontario.