By Tracey Arial
www.thesuburban.com
Lufa Farms are set to begin planting at their second rooftop greenhouse in Laval next week. The brand new 43,000 square foot structure will become the world’s largest commercial rooftop greenhouse in production.
“The additional greenhouse allows us to offer a wider range of fresh, premium vegetables, all grown responsibly and delivered daily to local consumers,” said Lauren Rathmell, founding member and greenhouse director of Lufa Farms. “Now we have space to grow more than 20 specialty tomatoes, including pink cherries, Striped German, and legendary Cherokee Purples—just some of the delicious and unique vegetables we grow that are not available from grocery stores.”
So far, some 2,000 subscribers pick up weekly baskets at 130 different locations in the greater Montreal region. Deliveries in Laval began last spring to six locations, four of which are public: Java U at the Carrefour Laval; Boulangerie Rurbain on Sainte Rose; Depot de l’Importateur at 1700 Autoroute 440 West; and Pharmacie Brunet Plus–Fabreville on Dagenais West.
Lufa expects their numbers to increase now that a local greenhouse has been built. Partner business owners are already enthusiastic. Michel Najm, pharmacist and owner of Brunet Plus-Fabreville, sees the weekly food basket deliveries as an extension of his health services.
Costs for building the structure were shared between Lufa and Groupe Montoni. Development figures haven’t been released, but their first Ahunsic Cartierville greenhouse cost $2 million to construct, and it was smaller than this one is.
Lufa Farms will lease the Montoni roof going forward.
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