Test Crops Planted at GoodLeaf’s New Farm in Calgary
Innovative vertical farm preparing for full production late fall
GUELPH, Ont. — Slated to begin full production in Western Canada in late fall, GoodLeaf Farms has planted the first test crops at its new facility in Calgary.
Construction on the 96,000-square-foot indoor vertical farm facility is all but complete, and this week crops of the microgreens and baby greens that will be grown and harvested in Calgary for retail stores and the food service sector in Western Canada were planted to ensure all of the equipment and infrastructure is working as intended. 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.
“This is a significant milestone for GoodLeaf Farms as we work to establish a truly national footprint of indoor vertical farms that provide fresh leafy greens that are typically imported to Canada,” says Barry Murchie, President and Chief Executive Officer of GoodLeaf Farms. “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.”
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.
The Calgary farm, located in an industrial park on 108 Avenue SE, is GoodLeaf’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.
GoodLeaf’s Calgary operation will create about 70 skilled and hourly job opportunities in the city 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.
GoodLeaf’s indoor vertical farms use innovative technology to grow microgreens and baby greens 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 — and thus no pesticides, herbicides or fungicides are used — and its 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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About GoodLeaf Farms:
With a passion for delicious, nutrient-rich greens, GoodLeaf was founded in Halifax in 2011. Using an innovative technology and leveraging multi-level vertical farming, GoodLeaf has created a controlled and efficient indoor farm that can grow fresh produce anywhere in the world, 365 days of the year. The system combines innovations in LED lighting with leading edge hydroponic techniques to produce sustainable, safe, pesticide-free, nutrient-dense leafy greens. GoodLeaf has ongoing R&D Programs in collaboration with the University of Guelph, Dalhousie University and Acadia University.