Our Farms
We Don't Buy Produce. We Source It.
Every farm partner in the EquaFresh network is selected against strict agronomic, food safety, and commercial criteria. We visit, audit, and maintain direct relationships with every grower we work with.
Why Farm Selection Matters
The quality of produce at your receiving dock is determined long before it reaches a container. It starts with soil health, irrigation practices, harvest timing, and packing-house hygiene. That's why we don't source from brokers or spot markets — we build direct relationships with farms that meet our standards, and we verify those standards in person.
Our Origin Regions
Ecuador
Bananas
Ecuador is the world's largest banana exporter, and our grower partners here operate certified packing houses with full cold-chain infrastructure. We source Cavendish bananas from farms in the coastal lowlands where volcanic soil and consistent rainfall produce fruit with superior flavour and shelf life.
- Cavendish & organic varieties
- GlobalG.A.P. certified farms
- Year-round supply
- Dedicated reefer container programs
Costa Rica
Pineapples
Costa Rica produces the world's benchmark MD2 Gold pineapple. Our farm partners in the Caribbean lowlands and central valley grow fruit to exacting Brix and sizing specifications, packed in purpose-built facilities with strict hygiene protocols and cold-chain continuity from harvest to container.
- MD2 Gold variety
- Rainforest Alliance certified
- Retail & foodservice pack
- Crown-on and crown-cut options
Peru
Avocados & Pomegranates
Peru's diverse growing altitudes produce some of the world's finest Hass avocados and Wonderful pomegranates. Our highland farm partners benefit from ideal temperature differentials that develop rich flavour and extended shelf life — critical for the Canadian import window.
- Hass avocado & Wonderful pomegranate
- High-altitude growing regions
- Organic options available
- Extended shelf life specifications
Panama
Bananas & Tropical Fruits
Panama's Atlantic coast growing regions offer ideal conditions for banana and tropical fruit production. Our partners here operate modern packing facilities with integrated quality control, providing a complementary supply window to our Ecuador programs.
- Atlantic coast growing regions
- Modern packing facilities
- Complementary supply window
- Full cold-chain from farm
Mexico
Mangoes & Avocados
Mexico is North America's closest source of premium Ataulfo and Tommy Atkins mangoes, as well as Hass avocados from Michoacán. Our Mexican farm partners provide critical supply during peak Canadian demand windows, with short transit times that preserve freshness and reduce cold-chain risk.
- Ataulfo & Tommy Atkins mango
- Michoacán Hass avocado
- Short transit to Canada
- Peak-season supply programs
How We Select & Audit Our Farm Partners
Every farm in our network passes a multi-stage evaluation before we place a single commercial order.
On-Site Farm Visit
Before any commercial relationship begins, our team visits the farm in person. We assess soil health, irrigation infrastructure, pest management practices, and worker welfare standards.
Packing House Audit
We inspect the packing facility for hygiene protocols, cold-chain infrastructure, grading and sizing equipment, and documentation systems. A farm with poor packing infrastructure cannot supply us regardless of field quality.
Certification Verification
We verify all relevant certifications — GlobalG.A.P., Rainforest Alliance, organic, and Canadian import compliance documentation. Certifications must be current and independently audited.
Trial Shipment
New partners supply a trial shipment before entering our commercial program. We evaluate fruit quality, sizing consistency, packing integrity, and cold-chain performance across the full transit window.
Annual Re-Audit
All active farm partners are re-audited annually. Standards must be maintained — not just met at onboarding. We also conduct unannounced spot checks during peak supply periods.
Certifications & Standards
Our farm partners hold internationally recognised certifications that verify food safety, environmental responsibility, and worker welfare.
GlobalG.A.P.
The global benchmark for Good Agricultural Practices. Required for all primary farm partners supplying retail-grade produce to Canadian buyers.
Rainforest Alliance
Certifies sustainable farming practices that protect biodiversity, conserve water, and support farming communities. Required for our tropical fruit programs.
Organic (USDA / Canada Organic)
Selected farm partners hold organic certification for buyers requiring certified organic programs. Available on bananas, avocados, and select tropical varieties.
HACCP & Food Safety Plans
All packing houses in our network operate under documented HACCP plans, with traceability records maintained from harvest lot to container seal.
Traceability & Food Safety
Every shipment we move is traceable from harvest lot to delivery dock. Our documentation package includes packing house certificates, phytosanitary certificates, country-of-origin documentation, temperature logs, and CFIA import compliance records. In the event of a food safety concern, we can trace any lot back to its origin farm and packing date within hours — not days.
- Harvest lot traceability to origin farm
- Continuous temperature logging from packing to dock
- Full CFIA import compliance documentation
- Phytosanitary certificates on every shipment
- Rapid recall capability within hours
- Retailer-ready food safety audit packages
Want to Know Where Your Produce Comes From?
We provide full origin documentation and traceability records to all commercial buyers. Talk to us about building a supply program with complete transparency.
Request Supply