Whitehorse Daily Star

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PLANS FOR THE FUTURE – A proposed 2,000 square metre greenhouse building (as pictured above) would expand Yukon Gardens’ produce-growing season from six to 10 months, with an eventual goal of growing produce throughout the full year. Yukon Gardens is expecting the new facility will be finished around December, with the first harvest anticipated for April 2018. Inset Lorne Metropolit Photo courtesy YUKON GARDENS

Growth planned for Yukon Gardens greenhouse

More locally grown vegetables could be making their way to the territory’s dinner tables

By Stephanie Waddell on March 24, 2017

More locally grown vegetables could be making their way to the territory’s dinner tables as Yukon Gardens moves forward with plans for a major greenhouse expansion.

At Monday’s city council meeting, members were asked to consider a zoning amendment that would allow for the greenhouse expansion and reduce the front yard setback from six metres to two metres to allow more room for the project.

Plans would see a 2,000 square metre greenhouse building that would also include an office, loading and processing areas.

Yukon Gardens owner Lorne Metropolit said in an interview this morning the expansion plans have been in the works for two years as the company has been struggling to keep up with demand for locally grown, pesticide-free vegetables.

“I can’t keep up with the demand,” Metropolit told the Star.

More people want to know where their produce comes from and what goes into growing those fruits and vegetables.

Technology changes make a longer growing season in the Yukon a possibility, he said.

As he noted in describing the plans: “Now, with the introduction of new technology – LED lights, automatic structures, higher yielding vegetable varieties, etc. – we are proposing to grow year-round.”

The changes see the Yukon Gardens production season expand from the current six-month season to a 10-month season, with an eventual goal of 12-month production.

Exactly how long it’s expected to take to get from a 10-month production season to a full-year will depend on how things go.

“Baby steps,” Metropolit said.

Right now, while it’s clear demand is there, there are still many “unknowns” that won’t be clear until the operations are in full swing.

Provided everything goes according to plan in the more immediate future though, construction of the new facility would begin in May and finish around December, with the first harvest in April 2018.

Among the veggies planned for the new greenhouse are seven varieties of tomatoes, two types of English cucumbers, five varieties of peppers, four types of lettuce, seven herbs, green beans and a number of types of baby vegetables, he said.

Eventually, Metropolit said he would like to work with communities in the Yukon on efforts to grow local food.

“We have the experience, marketing structure, trained staff and management,” he noted.

“Kelsey Metropolit, our head grower, is a University of Alberta graduate and Olds College horticulture program graduate, specializing in greenhouse production. She also has a lifetime of working in the family greenhouse business.”

After looking over the options to heat the facility, Yukon Gardens opted to continue with biomass, as it’s done throughout its facility for close to 30 years. In this case though, it will be supplemented.

“It is the most economical, but it is also the most demanding regarding the labour component and does not give an even heat level due to the size of the boiler,” he pointed out.

“Thus we have determined biomass is the way to go, but with an auguring system using Yukon wood chips.

“These hot water boilers provide a constant even heat, that reuse the majority of the gases that otherwise go up the chimney. Therefore, this makes these heating systems produce more heat, using less wood, very little particles from the chimney.”

He went on to note that biomass leaves a smaller carbon footprint and the plans will help promote industries in the territory between greenhouse vegetable production and biomass.

“This green-growing project has never been done before in the Yukon or anywhere in the Canadian North, and for good reason,” Metropolit said.

“This is a fair amount of risk, requiring trained staff and a grower, also dealing with a harsh environmental conditions, but it can be done, and we believe we are ready.”

City council will vote on first reading of the zoning change for the greenhouse project Monday.

If first reading is passed, a public hearing on the proposal would be held at council’s April 24 session.

A report on the hearing would then come to council May 1, followed by a vote on second and third readings May 8.

Comments (12)

Up 9 Down 20

Chrissy Sands on Mar 28, 2017 at 7:25 pm

Love the locally grown veggies! So much tastier and they stay fresh longer!

Up 32 Down 2

Mary Bert on Mar 28, 2017 at 10:08 am

It's time to say "NO" !
So he's going to grow TOMATOES! Yah, Right...And is he going to use the dirt from his carwash to grow TOMATOES? And in a few month's is going to say oh it didn't work B.S. ! Enough is enough and City Council listen to the people!

Up 42 Down 0

wondering on Mar 27, 2017 at 9:48 am

Did Lorne get grants to build this as he has often done in the past? He's really good at 'farming' the grants and free land programs.

Up 10 Down 47

Stanley Miller on Mar 25, 2017 at 9:33 pm

Just because he got land for one purpose and sold it for profit for another purpose is no reason to be so harsh.
It's the way business works.

Up 49 Down 2

Remember those loans on Mar 25, 2017 at 6:32 pm

This establishment was one of those that had to be dragged, kicking and screaming to pay back one of those loans that Yukon businesses got at a song. This was during Fenties reign and caused a huge fallout with PJ from Dawson city who also felt it was a gift and he didn't really have to pay it back. This business also took full advantage of the hire a student and have 3/4 of their wages paid by the Feds meanwhile people were having trouble getting paid by him for work done. Another successful Yukon land baron through programs, grants and goodwill. Proceed with caution!

Up 15 Down 30

ProScience Greenie on Mar 25, 2017 at 11:40 am

Excellent. More all season greenhouses across the Yukon and less big rig reefers up the Alaska Hwy please.

Up 60 Down 2

Long Memory on Mar 25, 2017 at 8:04 am

I recall that all the property Mr. Metropolit has was supposed to be for agricultural use. That's how he got the land in the first place. Somehow, he was able to get a zoning change to sell lots and make a pile of cash. If he had stuck to the original plan, he would have had a lot of room for greenhouses. Smell the money!

Up 51 Down 4

Screwed on Mar 25, 2017 at 12:19 am

If he makes a profit, will he pay off all his local debts?

Up 8 Down 41

Vladimir on Mar 24, 2017 at 9:51 pm

Way to go Lorne all the best !

Up 41 Down 3

YG $$ on Mar 24, 2017 at 9:18 pm

Is it true that YG provided $200,000 towards this venture?

Up 65 Down 2

Just Say'in on Mar 24, 2017 at 5:28 pm

This is the same guy that got the property for next to nothing so he could provide a Northern Show Garden. Then promptly shut it down. Wasn't supposed to have a house on it but then did it anyway. Was't to be subdivided but got his way. All roads named after him. Please do not give this guy another cent. Enough is enough.

Up 31 Down 15

Barry Smith on Mar 24, 2017 at 3:36 pm

FRESH tomatoes , peppers and beans you say ?

TAKE MY MONEY

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