“My family is healthy, we’re expanding, and I work with the best people around.”

Peter Quiring, our President and CEO, is known by many as the ‘accidental farmer’. He started up a machining business in 1993 – now known as South Essex Fabricating – and in 1999, he built a greenhouse that he couldn’t seem to sell. Peter decided to grow in it, and that is when Nature Fresh Farms was born!

One of Peter’s defining moments is from his early days as a shop foreman – he had a manager who was a real people person, and he often took Peter into his office to help him improve his people skills: “After a lot of time spent with this manager, I realized you need to pay attention to perspectives. Two people can view the same situation very differently, and when it comes to relationship building, it’s imperative to try and understand the other person’s point of view.”

This past year has given Peter a lot to be thankful for and proud of: “My family is healthy, our greenhouses are running smoothly, we’re expanding in Ontario, South Essex is booked up for 2019, and I’m working with the most enthusiastic, energetic, and fun people around. Twenty-five years with these teams went by so fast, but we’re in a really good place right now.”

A lot of people wonder – how does Peter Quiring spend his free time? For him, it’s all about relaxing and having a good time: “If I have a free moment, I like watching mindless TV or educational videos on YouTube. And if I’m alone in the car, I jam out to just about any type of music.”

A typical day for Peter consists of attending important meetings with our partners, checking out greenhouse construction sites, dropping in with our Growers to see our crops, and putting big ideas into action. Peter Quiring is one of the #GrowToPeople!