EPISODE #21
Grower Spotlight w/ Albert Mastronardi
Growing up on the family farm in the Kingsville-Leamington area, a young Albert Mastronardi developed a passion for the earth that would grow into a lifelong love affair with farming. His early years were spent working on the family farm amidst his siblings and the Mucci family. There, they quickly took an interest in farming and growing. Little did they all know where these early memories would take them years later.
Driven by an unyielding passion for cultivating fresh produce, Albert decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue growing the farm alongside his brother and sister. Now, they have established thriving greenhouses that serve as a testament to this tradition and new innovation.
As Albert grew, so did his dreams of cultivating a future deeply rooted in agriculture.
Today, his greenhouses are home to many famous Mucci Farms products – vibrant coloured tomatoes of all different sizes, crisp cucumbers, and many exciting new varieties under trial. The trial section is his favourite part! The exploration and development of new varieties is something that’s very interesting to him. As with anything, it takes time and effort to cultivate something great and this is something that Albert prides himself on. After years of development and trial & error, he says there’s nothing more gratifying than seeing a product he helped grow on retail shelves and enjoyed by many consumers.
Even though his family’s greenhouses have grown into a large-scale innovative operation, Albert never forgets the pathway that his family paved for him as his father dared to come to Canada to cultivate his dreams. It’s never been just about farming for him, it’s about sowing the seeds of passion and reaping a harvest that will last for generations. It’s a reminder that, when fueled by passion, a small seed can grow into a flourishing legacy that feeds not only your family, but the world.