On June 25, 2024, The Vermillion Growers team, under the umbrella of EcoChain Finance Asset Management Group, proudly announced ，the first phase of its greenhouse project had reached the milestone of shipping 1 million kilograms! This achievement not only stands as a testament to EcoChain Finance's relentless efforts and commitment ，but also marks the beginning of continued growth.
The Vermillion Greenhouse Project is a significant part of EcoChain Finance's initiatives. Located in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada, the project dedicates to growing high-quality agricultural products, promoting healthy living, and building sustainable communities.
The EcoChain Finance greenhouse project is planned to be completed in five phases, with a total budget of CAD 36 million and covering of 70 acres. Currently, the first phase of the project has 10 acres in production. The second and third phases, covering 20 acres, are expected to be completed in 2025, while the fourth and fifth phases, covering 40 acres, will be completed in 2026. Notably, the greenhouse was designed by a Dutch company which is one of the most advanced in the world, with a lifespan of 55 years.
The project's mission is to develop modern agriculture, cultivate elite talent, and prosper community ecology. Its goals include using leading technology to operate efficiently and environmentally; strengthening community building ，providing locally produced sustainable food resources; and being responsible to consumers and investors ，ensuring traceability of the project’s products.
According to recent statistics, Canada’s import of fresh tomatoes has shown a continuous growth trend. Only in 2022 alone, Canada imported about 197,900 tons of fresh tomatoes. It is in this market context that the EcoChain Finance greenhouse project was born.
In May 2022, the first phase of the project, supported by BitForest-Vermillion’s own funds, began construction and was completed in June 2023. On July 27, 2023, the first phase was completed, and the first batch of tomato seedlings began planting. On September 9, 2023, the large-scale, ultra-modern intelligent greenhouse was fully operational, successfully planting all tomato seedlings. At the end of November 2023, the project began harvesting its first batch of tomatoes. By June 25, 2024, the first phase successfully shipped 1 million kilograms. To date, the project has continuously harvested tomatoes for over 30 weeks.
Through the joint efforts of all project members, overcoming challenges within weather and geological resources, and deeply researching various agricultural fields, the team maximized production capacity and efficiency, achieving remarkable accomplishments in a short period.
The EcoChain Finance greenhouse project team eliminates seasonal limitations through advanced technological infrastructure, allowing multiple plantings and harvests of tomatoes year-round. They can pick 10,000 boxes of fresh tomatoes daily, a weekly harvest, and a single planting can provide stable harvests for nearly seven months. The project grows vine tomatoes (TOV) that are pesticide-free and ripen naturally, growing with the accompaniment of music. These tomatoes, certified by experts, are healthy, nutritious, and known for their sweet, juicy taste and rich flavor. To ensure quality, automated picking technology, intelligent packaging lines, and automated transport vehicles are used, with no manual operation throughout the process.
To guarantee product quality, the project employs an integrated supply chain, ensuring products can be delivered from the greenhouse to the consumer's table within 24 hours. Currently, the project has signed a long-term supply agreement with one of Canada’s largest agricultural product suppliers, Red Sun Farms; all products will be included in Red Sun Farms' distribution network, which encompasses well-known retailers such as Costco, Loblaws, Sobey’s, Safeway, and Western Federated Co-op.
The project’s products will supply fresh tomatoes to markets in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Northwestern Ontario, replacing some imported products.
The EcoChain Finance greenhouse project will continuously expand its production scope, planning to include consumer staple crops such as sweet peppers and cucumbers. Meanwhile, the project aims to serve the community, providing 30 job opportunities in the first phase, with an estimated 210 jobs created after the completion of the second phase.
EcoChain Finance is moving towards a more glorious future. Through continuous expansion and innovation, it will continue to bring more high-quality agricultural products to the community, contributing to the sustainable development of the planet.
