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
BREAKING Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Luxury cruise line selling world cruise suite for US$1.7 million
Luxury operator Regent Seven Seas Cruises is raising their price tag to eye-watering levels, with a suite on an upcoming 140-day world voyage costing US$1.7 million.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
A Filipino villager is nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace
A Filipino villager has been nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.