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S4 Greenhouses takes over for TR

Produce shoppers at the Red Deer Public Market this year might have noticed something amiss.The familiar Pik-n-Pak sign is gone, although the vegetable offerings of the vendor selling at Pik-n-Pak’s longtime location are unchanged.

Produce shoppers at the Red Deer Public Market this year might have noticed something amiss.

The familiar Pik-n-Pak sign is gone, although the vegetable offerings of the vendor selling at Pik-n-Pak’s longtime location are unchanged.

TR Greenhouses, which operated Pik-n-Pak Produce in partnership with Doefs Greenhouses and Gull Valley Greenhouses, has been sold and now operates as S4 Greenhouses. It’s S4 Greenhouses that is now selling at the Saturday market in Red Deer, as well as at the Friday farmers’ market in Lacombe and three other weekly markets in the Edmonton area.

Leona Salomons, who along with her husband Norm and their business partners Albert and Kim Schermers own S4 Greenhouses, said they bought TR Greenhouses this spring after owners Ron and Tena Prins decided to retire. Leona had worked for the Prinses for 23 years and Norm for nearly as long.

“We took over everything and we grew the same stuff this year,” said Leona. “We might change a few things next year but for now it’s going to be the same.”

One change that S4 Greenhouses has made is the opening of a store at its greenhouses between Lacombe and Gull Lake. Leona said visitors can buy a variety of tomatoes there, as well as peppers, cucumbers, beans and lettuce.

“We have it all here and we change it out every day,” she said, pointing out that the produce is grown pesticide-free.

S4 Greenhouses also continues to supply product to Pik-n-Pak for sale under that name, said Leona.

She said the transition from employee to owner has brought added responsibilities, such as attendance at the various farmers’ markets that S4 Greenhouses participates in.

“It’s lots of work and I think I work harder now,” she laughed.

To get to S4 Greenhouses and its store, go west on Hwy 12 from Hwy 2, and then south on Range Road 27-5.

hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com