From seed to harvest: the journey of indoor farm veg.

After passing a large warehouse space next to our rooftop greenhouse in Ville Saint-Laurent tons of times, our co-founder Mo started thinking about its untapped potential. At first he toyed with the idea of using it as a space for his kids to bike, but that dream was short-lived. It did spark a train of thought about how this area could be repurposed into something that would contribute to the local economy. And so began our indoor farm journey - now operating successfully at nearly full capacity, and providing Lufavores with over a dozen varieties of greens and counting. 

Keep reading to learn how these veg grow in a single-level system without any sunlight and scroll to the bottom to watch a video of the plants in action!

Everything starts with a seed. Using our first-ever seeding machine, we sow the plants in a mix of peat moss and coco fibres assembled locally in Rivière-Ouelle. This substrate anchors the roots while water provides nutrients the plants need. 

Once planted, they spend two days in the germination room to grow their first sprouts. This pitch-black chamber maintains a temperature of 26°C and humidity levels near 90% - aka the ideal environment for quality, uniformity, and quicker growth.

Next, the delicate seedlings are taken to the propagation tables. For 14 to 21 days, we provide these little guys with a nurturing environment where the lighting is kept gentle to acclimate them and make sure they grow strong before moving to the main growing area.

Once the plants grow around seven leaves, they’ve gained the strength needed to head to the main channels. It’s in these channels that they reach maturity, spending the majority of their growth cycle. The lifespans vary: lettuce typically takes three to four weeks to reach maturity, while kohlrabi, green onions, and celery require twice as much time. This is where Green Automation technology takes centre stage, systematically moving the plants forward and optimizing their positioning throughout the growth process. The controlled environment maintains a stable temperature and humidity, creating an ideal environment for the plants to thrive.

Every morning, mature plants are harvested in the indoor farm. Thanks to the proximity of our distribution centre just one floor below, they make their way from the channels to the baskets in just a few hours, bringing Lufavores the freshest possible veg.

Once harvested, the channels are washed and sent back to be reused. And the cycle starts again, with no gap in production all year long.

Curious to see this cycle in action? Watch this video that showcases the journey of our indoor farm veg.