We sell containers. We do not rent.
Van Blanc sells shipping containers outright. We do not rent, we do not lease, and we do not offer rent-to-own. Renting comes up on this page because buyers compare it against owning, and that comparison is worth reading, but purchase is the only arrangement we offer. Stocked units deliver from our Brantford yards in 1 to 3 days. Request a sale quote or call the yard at 519-754-6844.
Quick Answer: Every Van Blanc delivery runs on roads governed by the Ontario MTO, so our tilt-deck routing follows provincial load and clearance rules from gate to gate. Burford is eight kilometres west of our yard at 90 Morton Avenue East. Most Burford deliveries land within 24 hours of order. Van Blanc carries all seven shipping container sizes (20ft and 40ft Standards, 40ft High Cube, 45ft and 53ft High Cube, plus 20ft and 40HC reefers) in one-trip, cargo worthy, and wind-and-watertight grades. Cash, draft cheque, or e-transfer on delivery. We have been delivering to Brant County farms and rural Burford properties since 1995. To view bins in person before you buy, drive in to the Brantford yard. Family-run, 4.9 stars across 140+ verified Google reviews.
Part of our Brantford, Brant County and Six Nations service area. See the regional hub for the full lineup of container grades and delivery details plus nearby coverage including Brantford, Paris and St George.
In This Guide
- Burford has been a farming town since the Fall Fair started in 1858
- Eight kilometres from your concession road to our yard gate
- What does a Burford farm actually order?
- Tilt-deck delivery on a Burford concession road
- Honest pricing for Burford buyers
- Why a sea can from a Burford-area neighbour beats one from Facebook
- Frequently asked questions
Burford has been a farming town since the Burford Fall Fair started in 1858
The Fall Fair has run every Thanksgiving weekend in Burford for 168 years. It outlasts Confederation. It outlasts the railway. It outlasts the tobacco kilns that used to dot the county lines. The fair sits at the heart of what makes Burford a farming community first and a settlement second. The Brant County Federation of Agriculture celebrated its 85th anniversary at Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall in Burford in March 2026, with nearly 200 farmers in attendance and the Brant Farm Award going to the McLellan family for the Jaysar Dairy operation and J&S Grain Farms.
Tobacco out, ginseng in: the crop that brought Asia back to Brant County
The tobacco kilns are mostly gone, replaced in many fields by ginseng greenhouses growing root for the South Korean and Chinese export market. Paul finds that funny. He spent forty years in Asian trade before pivoting Van Blanc into containers in 1995. The ginseng going east from Brant County now leaves on the same kind of steel boxes he once filled with footwear coming the other way. Containers come full circle.
Eight kilometres from your concession road to our yard gate
The shortest delivery distance in our entire service area is the run from 90 Morton Avenue East out Highway 53 to Burford. Most orders ship the same day or next day. There is no premium freight charge. There are no out-of-zone surcharges. The truck pulls out of our lot, takes 53 west past the city boundary, turns onto whichever sideroad your farm sits on, and tilt-decks the bin where you want it.
The advantage is not just speed. It is also that we have been delivering to Brant County farms continuously for thirty years. Christian, Paul’s son and the second-generation operator on the yard, has driven nearly every concession road in the township at one point or another helping with placement. He knows which sideroads have height restrictions from the old Bell Telephone lines. He knows which farms have a clear straight pull-in for a 40ft and which ones need the 20ft because the lane is too tight for the longer trailer.
If you are not sure whether your farm gate or driveway will accept the truck, call before you order. Christian or Paul will walk through it on the phone. Real lead time, not a hopeful one.
We keep shipping containers for sale in Burford in every grade, from new one-trip units down to used shipping containers for sale at the wind-and-watertight end. A shipping container, also called a sea can, sea container, or C-can, is the same eight-foot-wide steel box whatever you call it on the order form.
What does a Burford farm actually order?
Most Burford buyers are farmers, contractors who serve farmers, or rural homeowners on lots that used to be farms. The order pattern reflects the agricultural cycle. There are predictable seasonal moves we have watched for thirty years.
November through March: equipment shelter and feed storage
The most common Burford order is a 40ft wind-and-watertight container at the back of a farmstead before first frost. The bin houses combine heads that were running through October, the smaller tractors that need to come off the field, the supplemental feed for the dairy or beef herd, and the fertiliser that was bagged ahead of spring. WWT grade is the right choice here because the bin lives stationary on a level pad behind the barn for two decades. Cosmetic wear from previous ocean voyages does not matter. Surface rust on the side panels does not matter. What matters is that it is wind-tight, water-tight, rodent-proof, and standing where you put it. On a 40ft WWT the quote tracks the size, the grade, and the current steel market more than anything cosmetic.
August through October: the harvest crunch container
The second pattern is the temporary harvest container. Cash crop operators who run a tight schedule on corn or soybean often need a 20ft on a sideroad pad for two months, somewhere to stage tools, parts, and small equipment within walking distance of the field they are working. Cargo worthy grade fits this use because the bin sees harder use during the season and may need to be repositioned. Some operators rent for the eight to ten weeks of harvest. Others buy a 20ft CW outright and resell after the crop is in, recovering much of what they paid. We do both. We tell you which makes sense for your acreage and your typical operation. For farm buyers wondering what other shapes a 20ft can take outside the harvest crunch, how a 20ft sea can typically gets used across Canadian operations covers grain-bagging supply storage, workshop conversions, ginseng-drying buffers, and the contractor-jobsite configurations that pop up on Brant County farms outside the harvest weeks.
The dairy and the grain operation: different needs, same yard
A dairy farm like Jaysar’s running a milking parlour wants a 20ft High Cube in a specific corner of the operation, usually for vet supplies, milking equipment overflow, or in some cases a refrigerated reefer container for milk handling during transition periods. A grain operation like J&S wants the bigger 40ft footprint for grain bagging supplies, bin sweeps, and the augers that come off in October. Both come from the same yard, both delivered on tilt-deck, both quoted with the same honest grading. The difference is what you put in them, not where they come from.
Ginseng growers and the Asian export connection
Ginseng farms have replaced most of the tobacco in southern Brant County, and the cultivation is dramatically different. Ginseng grows under shade-cloth tents for four years before harvest. The crop is dried, graded, and shipped, most of it east, to South Korean and Chinese buyers who pay premium prices for Ontario-grown root. Ginseng operations need secure, climate-stable storage for the dried crop in the months between harvest and shipping. We have built insulated 40ft High Cubes for several Brant County ginseng operations over the past decade. Paul, who actually flew between Brantford and Asian buyers for forty years before he was a container supplier, has more context on the export side of that business than most container vendors will ever have.
Tilt-deck delivery on a Burford concession road
The technical reality of rural delivery is different from urban delivery, and most national franchises are not set up for it. Here is what to expect when our truck rolls onto your sideroad property.
For a 20ft container we need 60 feet of straight-line clearance for the tilt-deck manoeuvre, that is the truck length plus the deck angle plus the slide-off distance. For a 40ft container we need 120 feet. Most Burford farm laneways accommodate this without issue, but the gate width is sometimes the constraint. We need 10 to 12 feet of width clearance for the truck. Height clearance of about 14 feet for the bin on the deck plus the truck height, you need to clear power lines and any low tree branches. Surface preparation matters less than people think for a wind-and-watertight bin going onto compacted gravel or sod. The container has its own structural floor and it sits on its own corner posts. What it does not tolerate well is uneven settlement over years, which is why we walk through pad recommendations with you when you order.
Site prep that prevents the most common Brant County rust failure
For dairy operations or grain farms with permanent installation in mind, we usually recommend a level base of compacted granular A or screenings, four to six inches deep, with positive drainage away from the four corner posts. Some operations pour concrete pads. Most do not bother. The bin will outlast the pad either way. The number one failure mode we see in this region is rust at the floor frame from poor pad preparation, water pooling under the container during freeze-thaw cycles. Forty-five minutes of pad prep before the truck arrives saves twenty years of corrosion.
If your farm has a tight lane that cannot accept a tilt-deck truck, we offer crane delivery, a flatbed with a knuckle-boom crane that can set the bin in places a tilt-deck physically cannot reach. Crane delivery has a premium and we quote it transparently. There is no quoting trick. You see the cost before you commit.
Honest pricing for Burford buyers
Pricing on a Burford delivery is the same as a Brantford delivery, there is no rural surcharge, no “out-of-zone” fee, no Burford-specific markup. The container itself is graded the same way, priced the same way, and delivered the same way.
| Size + grade | Best for in Burford | What moves the quote |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft WWT | Tool crib, equipment shelter, household reno, garden shed alternative | Most affordable grade, smaller footprint; cosmetic wear is fine for stationary storage, so condition barely shifts the number |
| 20ft Cargo Worthy | Active-use seasonal storage, harvest crunch container | Mid-grade premium over WWT for certified-sound walls and doors; resale value at season’s end offsets part of the outlay |
| 20ft One-Trip | Visible from the road, branded, converted to office or studio | Near-new appearance carries the top of the 20ft range; paint, finish, and steel-market timing drive it most |
| 40ft WWT | Permanent stationary feed and equipment shelter | Double the footprint of a 20ft, so it sits higher; longer trailer needs more lane clearance, which can shape delivery |
| 40ft High Cube One-Trip | Insulated office, ginseng storage, modular farmstead office | Extra foot of height plus near-new condition plus any insulation or modification work, billed by scope, set the figure |
| 40HC Reefer | Dairy cold-storage transition, refrigerated farm produce | Refrigeration unit, temperature spec, and condition of the machinery put reefers well above dry containers |
Delivery is included for most addresses within Brant County. Custom modifications add four to six weeks because the work happens in our yard before the bin ships. Whatever the actual lead time is, we tell you the date when you book. Real lead time, not a hopeful one.
Why a sea can from a Burford-area neighbour beats one from a Facebook listing
The container industry has a scam problem in 2026. The Better Business Bureau and CBC News have both documented Canadians losing thousands per day to disposable websites and Facebook listings. The pattern is consistent. A listing appears far below the legitimate market price. The buyer is rushed to wire payment to a name that will not be reachable in two weeks. The container never arrives.
Paul LeBlanc, owner: “Many people call us telling us they can get a sea can on Facebook for a fraction of the going rate. Two weeks later they call back saying they got scammed. I have been in the container business for nineteen years and Asian trade for forty before that. I have never seen a wave like this. Don’t fall for it.”
The Van Blanc rule is the same it has been since 1995. You do not pay until the bin is on your property. Cash, draft cheque, or e-transfer on delivery. No upfront wires. No deposit games. No exceptions. That is also why we have a Brantford yard you can drive to. If a website or Facebook seller will not give you a real address you can visit, that is the warning sign. We are eight kilometres from Burford. You have driven past our gate a hundred times if you have ever taken Highway 53 between Brantford and the 401.
Frequently asked questions about shipping containers in Burford
How fast can Van Blanc deliver a sea can to Burford?
Most Burford addresses receive their container within 24 hours of order. Burford is eight kilometres from our Brantford yard on Highway 53. The four-Brantford-yards setup means we usually have stock 20ft and 40ft containers in all three grades at the time of your call. Custom modifications add four to six weeks because the modification work happens in our yard before the container ships.
How much does a shipping container cost in Burford?
In Burford the price of a shipping container depends on grade (Wind & Water Tight is the most affordable, Cargo Worthy mid-range, New/One-Trip the highest), size (a 20ft sits well under a 40ft), the delivery distance from our Brantford yard, and where the steel market and our stock stand, with reefer units higher again. We do not post a fixed sticker because an honest number depends on those factors. Call 519-754-6844 or request a quote and we will price your exact container and delivery to Burford the same day, payment on delivery, nothing hidden.
Where can I buy a sea can in Burford?
The closest sea-can yard to Burford is Van Blanc Ent. Inc. at 90 Morton Avenue East, Brantford. We are eight kilometres east on Highway 53, about a fifteen-minute drive. We carry all seven container sizes in three grades. You can walk the yard with Paul or his son Christian during business hours, no appointment required. Phone (519) 754-6844.
Are there used shipping containers for sale in Burford?
Yes. We keep used shipping containers for sale for Burford buyers in cargo worthy and wind-and-watertight grades, alongside new one-trip units, each graded by hand at our Brantford yard eight kilometres east on Highway 53. Tell us the size and your Burford address and we will quote it the same day, payment on delivery.
Can your truck make it down our concession road?
Almost always. We need 60 feet of straight-line clearance for a 20ft tilt-deck delivery and 120 feet for a 40ft. Gate width clearance of 10 to 12 feet, height clearance of about 14 feet for the truck plus container. Most Burford farm lanes accommodate this without issue. If your specific lane has tight access, we have crane-delivery trucks for tighter manoeuvres. Christian or Paul will walk through your specific situation on the phone before booking.
What’s the difference between a sea can, a c-can, and a shipping container?
Nothing. They are the same eight-foot-wide steel box that ocean ships move around the world. “Sea can” is the dominant term in rural Brant County and most of Canadian farming country. “C-can” is the shorthand contractors and casual buyers use. “Shipping container” is the global industry-standard term. We deliver every type from our Brantford yard regardless of what you call it on the order form.
Do you sell refrigerated containers for dairy or ginseng operations in Burford?
Yes. We supply 20ft and 40ft High Cube refrigerated (reefer) units for dairy, ginseng, produce, and other temperature-controlled agricultural storage. Reefer units run higher than dry containers, and the figure depends on the size, the temperature spec, and the condition of the refrigeration unit. Tell us your temperature range and size and we will quote the exact unit and delivery to Burford.
How long will a sea can last on a Burford farm?
A wind-and-watertight container, properly placed on a level pad with good drainage, lasts twenty-five years and longer in the Brant County climate. The Corten weathering steel was originally designed for trans-Atlantic shipping in conditions worse than anything an Ontario winter throws at it. The most common failure mode in this region is rust at the floor frame from poor pad preparation, water pooling under the container during freeze-thaw cycles. We can walk through pad preparation when you order. Most Brant County farms still have the original 1990s-era bin we sold them, still standing where it landed.
Can I rent a sea can in Burford instead of buying?
No. Van Blanc sells containers outright and does not rent, lease, or offer rent-to-own. For a need measured in weeks, a mobile-storage pod or a self-storage unit is usually the better call, and we will say so. Past a few months, buying a used wind-and-watertight box normally costs less than renting one, and you can sell it on or ask us about buyback when you are done.
What if I want to convert a sea can into a workshop or studio?
We do that work in our Brantford yard before the container ships. Common Burford-area conversions include insulated workshops with electrical, ventilated machine shops, modular farmstead offices, and the occasional ginseng-storage temperature-controlled unit. Conversion work adds four to six weeks of yard time before delivery. We quote the modification scope itemised, insulation type, electrical capacity, HVAC, doors, windows, paint, signage, so you see what you are paying for. Call to discuss your specific build.
Is there a closer shipping container store to Burford than driving into Brantford?
Burford sits just minutes from our Brantford yard at 90 Morton Avenue East, so the closest place to walk the units and pick your box is right there. There is no closer container store. We also deliver the short distance to Burford in 1 to 3 days.
Do you offer on-site storage containers staged at a Burford farm or jobsite?
Yes. We stage on-site storage containers at a Burford farm or jobsite, placed on a gravel pad by tilt-deck truck for feed, equipment, tools, or materials. They stay on the property year-round, and you own them outright. Brantford is right next door, so delivery is quick.
Is there a Big Steel Box or PODS alternative for Burford and Brant County?
There is no Big Steel Box or PODS yard in Burford, but Van Blanc is the local family-run alternative right next door in Brantford: buy or rent a real steel container outright and walk the yard first, instead of a franchise monthly. Delivered to Burford in 1 to 3 days.
Sources
- Brant County Federation of Agriculture. (2026, March). 85th Anniversary celebration and Brant Farm Award presentation, Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall, Burford. Recipient: McLellan family (Jaysar Dairy / J&S Grain Farms).
- Burford Agricultural Society. Burford Fall Fair, established 1858. Annual Thanksgiving weekend agricultural fair.
- Statistics Canada. (2024). Census of Agriculture: Brant Census Division, Ontario. Cash crop, livestock, and ginseng acreage data. statcan.gc.ca
- International Organization for Standardization. (2022). ISO 6346:2022 Freight containers, Coding, identification and marking. iso.org
- Institute of International Container Lessors. (2024). Container Inspection Criteria: Cargo Worthy, Wind & Watertight, and One-Trip Grading Standards. iicl.org
Ready to price your container?
Tell us the size and your postal code and we’ll send back an honest, all-in number, container, delivery, and placement, usually within 1-3 days. No pressure, no mystery fees.
Family-run in Brantford since 1995 · 200+ containers in stock · 4.9★ across 140+ Google reviews · every box graded by a person, walk it before it lands.
Reach Van Blanc, eight kilometres east of Burford
We have been supplying shipping containers across Ontario since 1995. Our warehouse is at 90 Morton Avenue East in Brantford, eight kilometres east of Burford on Highway 53, and we deliver right across Brant County on a payment-on-delivery basis. No surprise fees, no chase-the-paperwork.
Van Blanc Ent. Inc., 90 Morton Ave E Unit 1B, Brantford, ON N3R 7J7, (519) 754-6844
If you are reading this from a Burford farm, you are fifteen minutes from our gate on Highway 53. Drive over. Walk the rows with Paul or Christian. Pick the bin you want. Pay when it arrives. Worth the drive for unbeatable quality, family customer service with thirty years of operating in this region.
Related pages for Burford-area buyers
The full container-for-sale catalog walks through every size and grade we stock. The custom features and modifications page covers the modification work we do in our Brantford yard, insulation, electrical, ground-level office builds, lockboxes, ventilation, custom paint, roll-up doors. If you are weighing buy versus rent or trying to understand the grade differences, the customizing-containers guide in our blog covers most of the decision factors. If you want to read the scam-spotting checklist before you commit anywhere, the scam-checklist guide walks through the warning signs we have learned to spot over thirty years.
For nearby townships, we have dedicated pages for Brantford (eight kilometres east), Paris (twelve kilometres north), and our full Service Areas hub for every Ontario community we deliver to.