GoodLeaf Farms announces growth plans for Quebec

GoodLeaf Farms is breaking ground on an indoor vertical farm in the Montreal area this fall.

In a press release, the company said produce such as pea shoots, micro radish, micro arugula, micro Asian blend, spicy mustard medley and baby kale grown at the farm would be available at grocery stores in Quebec and Atlantic Canada by fall 2022.

The Quebec farm marks the company’s first expansion since establishing its commercial-scale farm in Guelph, Ont., in 2019, and is part of an “aggressive” growth plan that was announced earlier this year.

"It is GoodLeaf's intention to build a stable of indoor vertical farms that support the Canadian grocery network, food service industry and consumers—starting with an expansion into Quebec," said Barry Murchie, chief executive officer at GoodLeaf in the release.

"We are committed to growing in the Province of Quebec and are encouraged by the support and collaboration we have been getting from stakeholders and all levels of government," he said. "We are looking forward to finalizing all of the details."

GoodLeaf produces 800,000 pounds of greens annually from its 45,000-sq.-ft. automated vertical farm facility in Guelph, which are sold through such grocery retailers as Longo’s, Loblaws and Whole Foods Market.

In February, McCain Foods announced it would invest more than $65 million in GoodLeaf Farms subsidiary TruLeaf Sustainable Agriculture, making it the single-largest shareholder in the company.

At the time, GoodLeaf said the investment would allow it grow both its retail and foodservice footprint, and build facilities in Eastern and Western Canada.