Lufa Farms are now planting at their second rooftop greenhouse in Laval. The brand new 43,000 square-foot structure is 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.”
Some 2000 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 Blvd. St. Rose., Depot de l’Importateur at 1700 Autoroute 440 West and Pharmacie Brunet Plus-Fabreville on Blvd. Dagenais West.
Lufa expects their Laval subscriber base 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.
We encourage our patients to adopt good daily habits—like exercise and a balanced diet—as a key to preventing heart disease and even some types of cancer,” he said. “Lufa Farms share these same values. That is why we promote the company and wish them success.”
Partnerships with a major Laval firm also enabled to company to build the new greenhouse, which was designed as part of a new Groupe Montoni mixed-used commercial building. The new space is located at 4190 Desserte south, west of Boulevard Curé-Labelle near the 440.
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.
For more information or to order your own basket, visit http://lufa.com/en/.
Note 1: A version of this article originally appeared on pages 4 and 14 of the Suburban Laval edition on August 7, 2013.
Note 2: The author’s family subscribes to a Lufa Farm basket. See: http://traceyarial.com/blog/farm-fresh-produce-in-the-city/.
