By Alice McFarlane

Calgary indoor vertical farm in full production

Sep 13, 2023 | 5:07 PM

Construction on the 96,000-square-foot indoor vertical farm facility in Calgary is all but complete and the first test crops have been planted.

GoodLeaf Farms planted the microgreens and baby greens to ensure all of the equipment and infrastructure was working with the intent of being in full production in late fall.

Once fully operational, GoodLeaf’s Calgary farm will produce more than two million pounds of fresh, local leafy greens each year – with an expected 40 annual harvests of microgreens and 20 annual harvests of baby greens.

GoodLeaf Farms President and Chief Executive Officer Barry Murchie said this is a significant milestone for GoodLeaf as it creates a national footprint of indoor vertical farms that provide fresh leafy greens that are typically imported to Canada.

“As import replacement products, the foods we are providing are critical to our food security and sovereignty. We are excited to begin ramping up production in Calgary to serve markets in Western Canada,” Murchie said.

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GoodLeaf Farms grows Micro Radish, Micro Arugula, Micro Broccoli, Micro Asian Blend, Pea Shoots, Spicy Mustard Medley, Baby Spinach, Baby Arugula, Crisp Lettuce and Spring Mix and a variety of blends.

This is the company’s second Canadian location after its flagship commercial-scale farm in Guelph, Ont. A third farm is being built in the Montreal area with an expected opening in 2024.

The Calgary operation will create about 70 skilled and hourly job opportunities and will serve as a focal point for partnerships with post-secondary schools in Canada’s west. The design will be expandable, allowing a future expansion to double its size and more local jobs, when needed.

Indoor vertical farms use special technology to grow produce in Canada year-round, no matter the season, climate, or weather. The plants are grown in a complex hydroponics system to feed nutrient-rich water to the plants, and specialized LED lights that are engineered to emulate the red and blue wavelengths of the light spectrum to mimic the spring sun – ideal conditions for plants to maximize photosynthesis.

Because the farm is indoors in an environment that is almost entirely controlled, there are no pests, bugs, or birds so no pesticides, herbicides or fungicides are used. The crops are immune to severe weather events such as droughts, heavy rains, frost, or blizzards.

It is also environmentally sustainable, using 95 per cent less water than a traditional outdoor farm.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW