LEAMINGTON, Ontario — The Canadian greenhouse and horticulture industry is mourning the sudden loss of Hilco Tamminga, a respected and pioneering grower whose philosophy centered as much on building people as it did on building successful agricultural companies.
The news was shared by his son, Josh Tamminga, in a heartfelt social media post. “With deep sadness and a loss for words… my father, Hilco Tamminga passed away suddenly yesterday,” he wrote.
Tamminga was a foundational figure in Ontario’s greenhouse sector, involved in the growth and leadership of several prominent operations, including Cedarline, Truly Green, TamBerry, and the most recent venture, TamFarms. Known for his relentless work ethic and innovative approach, he helped shape the modern landscape of controlled-environment agriculture in the region.
Yet, according to tributes from family and colleagues, his true legacy lies not in the tomatoes and peppers his farms produced, but in the culture of integrity and care he cultivated.
“He made people feel like they each had a place in life,” his son wrote in the announcement, capturing the sentiment echoed by many. Colleagues described him as humble, honest, and deeply intelligent—a leader who valued the individual behind the employee. “No one was humbler, worked harder, or cared for others like him,” the family’s statement continued.
This people-first ethos was rooted in a profound Christian faith. His family emphasized that for Tamminga, the business of growing was a platform for a higher purpose. “His tomatoes or peppers were secondary in his life. Serving Jesus and his loved ones was the highest calling,” the statement read. “He would ‘multitask’ not to get more tomatoes, but to touch more lives.”
His guiding principle was a simple, powerful motto: “Do what’s right.” This phrase is now being shared across the industry as a testament to his character.
The news has sent waves of grief through the close-knit agricultural community of Essex County, known as Canada’s “Sunshine Capital” for its concentration of greenhouses. Competitors, suppliers, and former employees have all shared stories of his fairness, his mentorship, and his quiet generosity.
“His passing leaves a void not just in the industry’s knowledge base, but in its heart,” said a longtime industry consultant. “Hilco was the kind of leader who proved you could be fiercely successful while being genuinely kind and principled. He built beautiful companies, but more importantly, he built beautiful teams.”
Funeral arrangements are pending as the family requests prayers and privacy during this sudden loss. As the community reflects on his life, Hilco Tamminga is being remembered as a rare breed of entrepreneur—one whose measure of success was counted in thriving crops, thriving businesses, and, above all, thriving people.