This spring, leafy greens are getting the pop-star treatment as GoodLeaf Farms and Sobeys Inc. take them on a mobile truck tour across Ontario and Atlantic Canada. The Good For Life Tour, made possible by the partnership between GoodLeaf Farms and Sobeys, will offer Canadians a unique opportunity to learn about vertical farming while sampling GoodLeaf greens.
GoodLeaf Farms is proudly Canadian, and they are the country’s first and largest commercial indoor vertical farm operator. It launched in 2011 with the goal of improving Canadians’ access to fresh, locally grown produce, particularly during harsh winter months when traditional field farming isn’t possible. The company has farms across Canada to grow fresh local produce and to maximize freshness from farm to shelf.
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How vertical farming works
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Vertical farming involves tall towers of stacked trays that use controlled air, light and water to provide nutrients in a controlled environment. This technique lets farmers grow anywhere in the country, 365 days a year, while using 95 per cent less land and 97 per cent less water than traditional open-field farming and eliminating the need for pesticides and herbicides. The resulting greens retain freshness and nutritional value from harvest through to store shelves.
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Preserving the freshness of greens
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Preserving the quality and freshness of produce from harvest through transport is a priority for GoodLeaf Farms.
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“If you take a look at the leafy greens that [Canada] imports, you are looking at about 3,000 kilometres travelled on a truck, potentially,” says Jeff Barlow, GoodLeaf Farms’ chief marketing officer. “What happens then is you lose your freshness, you lose your shelf life, you lose actual nutrients, because every day that travels, you are losing nutritional value.”
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With GoodLeaf’s national footprint, all its produce is truly locally grown because it travels shorter distances before reaching your plates.
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Canada’s geography and climate can make year-round production of certain crops challenging, so indoor growing approaches can complement traditional agriculture. “Being able to grow fresh leafy greens in any type of environment, anywhere, and supply Canadians is what GoodLeaf Farms is all about,” adds Barlow.
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