Press Release
New Canadian agtech company Local Leaf Farms officially opened its first vertical farming facility today.
Using vertical farming technology, Local Leaf produces local produce that is more sustainable and fully traceable, directly addressing many of the challenges of food production highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alongside the launch, the company also released the findings of a study conducted by IPSOS that confirmed the ways in which COVID-19 has impacted the way Canadians are making decisions about food. According to the survey, 68 per cent of Canadians say the pandemic has made food safety more important to them and 47 per cent say locally produced food is today their top purchase driver.
“Canadian consumers are demanding greater transparency about the food they eat. And that demand has never been more urgent,” said Steve Jones, President and CEO of Local Leaf Farms, in a statement announcing today’s launch. “As we begin to consider a post-COVID reality, we need to have real discussions about the stability – and overall future – of food production in this country. Local Leaf is bringing leading-edge technology to the food sector to produce the fresh, safe and sustainable produce that Canadians are asking for.”
Local Leaf offers a fully traceable food source, with instant access to information about the food from seed to shelf. The company’s proprietary technology and mobile app allow retailers and consumers to know exactly where their produce comes from, including detailed information on how it was grown, when and by whom. The farm, which includes an 20,000 square foot community garden, is even open to the public once a month, allowing people to see and connect with their food.
Local Leaf’s Barrie location services grocery stores, foodservice providers, and home meal kit providers within 50km of the farm. All of the produce, which is sold under the My Local Leaf brand, is pesticide- and herbicide-free, non-GMO and packaged in 100 per cent plastic-free compostable packaging. The company is on track to open its next location in Kingston, Ontario in the coming months and has a scale goal to launch 20 locations across the country by the end of 2025.
SOURCE: Local Leaf Farms
