Greenhouse on Nipissing First Nation will help address lettuce shortage
Nipissing First Nation is eagerly awaiting the launch of a new greenhouse project.
The Mnogin Greenhouse, located on Jocko Point Road, will be open next year and will grow lettuce and other leafy greens.
The trailers are in place. All they need is the hydro and water connection and it will be open for business.
"Things are moving along as quickly as they can. I have a meeting with hydro next week and hoping to get a timeline," said Gen Couchie, Nipissing First Nation's business operations manager.
This project has been in the works for about six years. Three trailers will used to grow produce, while a fourth will be used for packaging and distribution.
The growth cycle rotation takes approximately 4-6 weeks. It's estimated the greenhouse will grow 15,000 kg of lettuce, herbs and other leafy greens annually.
"So we'll actually be able to push out 75,000 heads of lettuce per container," said greenhouse manager Mackenzie Jones.
"So that's about 225,000 heads of lettuce."
The greenhouse is hydroponic, which will allow the products to grow at a much faster rate. Chief Scott McLeod sees the project's potential as a training tool for other northern Ontario First Nations looking to address food insecurity.
"That requires cost-effective access to vegetables and healthy food products," he said.
"Coming out of COVID, we saw the prices and the effects of recession on accessing healthy food choices."
With a current shortage of lettuce in grocery stores and restaurants, the venture is seen as a big opportunity to supply local businesses needing the greens.
"We have a number of programs that would benefit from this including a diner's club, good food boxes, a nutritionist on staff and the distribution to restaurants," said Couchie.
The greenhouse will create two new jobs. If the project grows, more hands will be needed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
NEW Iconic Canadian song turns 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Prince Harry, Meghan arrive in Nigeria to champion the Invictus Games and meet with wounded soldiers
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria on Friday to champion the Invictus Games, which he founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans, among them Nigerian soldiers fighting a 14-year war against Islamic extremists.
Countries struggle to draft 'pandemic treaty' to avoid mistakes made during COVID
After the coronavirus pandemic triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions, leaders at the World Health Organization and worldwide vowed to do better in the future. Years later, countries are still struggling to come up with an agreed-upon plan for how the world might respond to the next global outbreak.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.