I had the opportunity to tour Haven Greens near King City with my daughter Charlotte’s “Beyond the Farm” 4-H Club. If you’ve tried the delicious, crunchy salad mix we’ve been carrying since last March, you already know how good it is—but seeing the “how” behind the harvest was really cool!
Walking through the massive greenhouse, we could see how Haven Greens is redefining local agriculture. Producing 12,000 lbs of greens every day, the facility is fully automated from seed to package. Because there is no human contact and the rain and well water collected on the farm is fully sterilized, the risk of pathogens is essentially eliminated. There is no need for chemical pesticides. They use beneficial pests to manage any unwanted insects. The result is a product so clean it doesn’t need washing and stays fresh in your fridge for nearly three weeks.
I didn’t realize the connection until we arrived, but “Haven” comes from Kinghaven Farms, one of Canada’s most prestigious horse racing and breeding operations, producing five Queen’s Plate winners. Founded by Donald “Bud” Willmot in 1967, the farm has evolved over three generations.
Under the leadership of Bud’s grandson, Jay Willmot, the farm has expanded into a hub of sustainability—including renewable energy, honey production, and woodlot management. Jay created Haven Greens out of a personal frustration with the lack of local, high-quality greens available year-round in Canada.
Launched just as we were searching for sustainable alternatives to imported American produce, Haven Greens is the perfect fit for our shelves. It remains a family-run business driven by two vital goals: food security and sustainability. By reusing their water and offering their organic waste back to the community as a terrific soil amendment, they aren’t just growing salad—they’re growing a better food system. We are so proud to supply you with this amazing, local crunch!
