Steven Newell has served as President and CEO of Windset Farms since 1996, when he and his brother John Newell built their first greenhouse in Abbotsford, B.C. He is responsible for new project development and expansion, facilities design and management, strategic planning, financing, permitting, government relations and executive-level recruitment. Like his brother John, he has intimate knowledge of all aspects of greenhouse fruit and vegetable production. 

Windset owns and operates greenhouses in British Columbia, Nevada and California with approximately 1600 employees during peak season. He and his brother have grown Windset Farms into the largest greenhouse produce company in the Western United States and Canada – from sales of $1 million in 1997 to approximately $365 million annually this year. Windset produces all types of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, and specialty items including strawberries, endives and eggplants. Windset partners with top brands across North America and Asia, including Costco (Canada, USA, Japan, Taiwan), Walmart, Sam’s Club, Loblaws (including Real Canadian Superstore), Albertsons, Safeway, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods to name a few.

Windset Farms uses only 100% non-GMO varieties and was officially Non-GMO Project Verified in January 2014. The company has won numerous awards including the World’s Best Tomato Grower Award at the first annual Tomato Inspiration Event at 2014’s Fruit Logistica in Berlin (the world’s largest fruit and vegetable convention). In the same year, Windset Farms was also voted Favourite Local Greenhouse or Veggie Grower by ‘We Heart Local BC’.  In 2007, the Packaging Association of Canada awarded the Gold Award in Brand Packaging to Windset Farms, and the Design Exchange of Canada awarded Windset Farms Best of Show for Brand Packaging. 

Steven continues to grow the business with his brother John with new projects currently under development in California for hydroponically-grown strawberries, peppers and leafy greens, as well as additional projects for cucumbers and tomatoes in the Las Vegas area. He also stays on top of industry trends that focus on leveraging sustainable technology to reduce costs and manage resources wisely to minimize the family-run company’s environmental footprint. 

Steven and John are strongly committed to giving back to the community. For the past four years, Windset Farms has been a regional sponsor and a Champion for the Cause for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s CIBC Run for the Cure. In 2014, they raised over $65,000 for the BC chapter of CBCF to fund cancer research. Windset has also partnered with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation for the second year in a row after raising $10,000 in 2014 to sponsor their Miracle Weekend again, along with other local events such as the ChildRun. Windset has also been a national sponsor for Farm Credit Canada’s Drive Away Hunger campaign for the last five years and a constant support to local food banks in BC and the Lower Mainland, donating over 60,000 pounds of fresh produce every year. The Newell brothers also believe in supporting education, and recently started providing three new annual scholarships this year totaling $4,000 to promising horticulture and business students at the Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Mr. Newell currently sits on the Advisory Board for Rabobank, the largest agricultural lender in the world. He has also been an active member and part of the board for several industry organizations including the BC Greenhouse Grower’s Association and the Metro Vancouver Agricultural Advisory Committee (representing the greenhouse sector). He attended Queen’s University School of Business and has completed the prestigious Quantum Shift Entrepreneurship program at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. The QSE program is a developmental experience which brings together forty of Canada’s most promising entrepreneurs each year. A St. George’s School alumnus, Mr. Newell enjoys business, architecture, skiing, boating, music, travel and generally anywhere with warm weather and palm trees.