On July 27, 2023, Vermillion Growers achieved a momentous milestone by completing the inaugural phase of its visionary greenhouse project, underwritten by the Bitforest-Vermillion Growers consortium. This remarkable accomplishment comprised the successful commissioning and rigorous inspection of a cutting-edge 10-acre greenhouse facility, coinciding with the planting of the inaugural tomato seedlings.
Fast-forward to September 9, 2023, and another historic chapter unfolded as the expansive, fully operational, and highly sophisticated 10-acre intelligent greenhouse commenced the cultivation of its maiden crop of vine tomatoes. This achievement not only underscores the project's audacity but also underscores its potential to redefine the landscape of tomato production.
Vermillion Growers' foray into controlled-environment agriculture signifies a pivotal departure from conventional farming practices. With a comprehensive project allocation of $32 million, the company has established a sprawling 10-acre vegetable greenhouse, impeccably equipped to yield an estimated 10 million pounds of vine tomatoes annually during its inaugural phase.
Maria Deschauer, co-founder and managing director of Vermillion Growers, unequivocally emphasizes the strategic importance of controlled-environment agriculture, recognizing it as the preeminent future of agribusiness. With this advanced technological infrastructure in place, tomatoes can be grown and harvested year-round, defying seasonal constraints and ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fresh produce for the central Canadian populace.
One of the greenhouse's central tenets of innovation lies in its commitment to sustainability. The facility has been meticulously engineered to minimize its dependence on external water resources by judiciously harvesting and conserving moisture and rainwater. Furthermore, the implementation of specialized coatings and diffused glass maximizes the efficient utilization of natural sunlight, thereby effectuating a notable reduction in energy consumption.
Ricky Elz, the esteemed account product manager at Gakon Netafim, the company at the helm of materials procurement and installation, underscored the greenhouse's distinguished water management capabilities. This advanced facility can adeptly capture and store melted snow and rainwater, thereby engendering an environmentally conscious and self-sustaining closed-loop system.
Beyond its transformative impact on tomato production, Vermillion Growers is poised to catalyze economic prosperity within the Dauphin locality. The initial phase of the project is anticipated to engender employment opportunities for approximately 34 highly skilled professionals, with projections of a substantial workforce expansion to 210 employees upon the attainment of its second phase.
In the forthcoming stage of development, Vermillion Growers aims to diversify its produce portfolio, encompassing sweet peppers and cucumbers, thus further solidifying its stature as an agricultural powerhouse. As the project scales up to envelop an extensive 70-acre expanse in the imminent future, the reverberations of this state-of-the-art greenhouse will reverberate across the community, galvanizing growth and prosperity.
Vermillion Growers remains steadfast in its commitment to specializing in the production of Tomatoes on Vine (TOVs). Renowned for their delectably sweet, succulent profile and luxurious texture, TOVs are celebrated for their unwavering firmness, rendering them ideal for precision slicing, an exquisite addition to sandwiches, salads, and an array of culinary creations. These vine-ripened tomatoes epitomize freshness, harvested at the pinnacle of ripeness, and are expediently delivered from the greenhouse to discerning consumers' tables within an impressive 24-hour window.
The timing of Vermillion Growers' project is impeccably aligned with prevailing market dynamics. Recent statistics indicate a consistent upward trajectory in the importation of fresh tomatoes into Canada. In 2022, approximately 197,900 metric tons of fresh tomatoes were imported into Canada, albeit marking a marginal decline compared to the preceding year's figure of 200,740 metric tons.
Vermillion Growers' avant-garde greenhouse initiative not only caters to the burgeoning appetite for locally sourced, premium produce but also sets an extraordinary benchmark for sustainable, technologically advanced agriculture. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and community enrichment, Vermillion Growers stands poised to reshape the Canadian agricultural landscape profoundly.
