Commercial greenhouse in the works
Feasibility study complete, federal funding announced
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, May 19, 2016
INUVIK
Consumers are one step closer to fresh, local veggies all year round.
Zoe Minakis munches on a carrot freshly pulled from a plot at last year's Inuvik Community Greenhouse fall fair. The facility has operated a commercial greenhouse seasonally for the past 15 years and is considering taking on a bigger role in the market. - NNSL file photo
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Aurora College recently released the results of a study which examined the feasibility of commercial greenhouses in Norman Wells and Inuvik.
"Hopefully something positive comes out of it," said research and communications assistant Kimberley Sellwood. "Like a commercial greenhouse."
Sellwood worked with local experts earlier this year to collect data in Inuvik, including online surveys about what vegetables and fruit people are looking to purchase each week. She said although the average resident seems willing to pay for locally-produced food, the initiative's success will be dependent on the willingness of Inuvik's restaurants and retailers to buy in bulk from the proposed greenhouse.
"The restaurants we spoke to said they were buying daily to prevent their food from rotting," she said. "And they said they would be willing to work with the greenhouse."
To this end, CanNor announced more than $100,000 in funding for the project, though the news release stated the funds were destined for more feasibility studies.
"The long-term intent is to grow the local agriculture sector and diversify the economy in communities across the NWT," the release stated. "These templates will be shared with community partners, organizations and local governments to encourage the development of Northern greenhouses throughout the territory.
"A more robust NWT agriculture sector could also help address long-standing food security issues in the North by investing in innovative ways to reduce food costs and by providing local employment opportunities."
Sellwood said start-up costs are estimated to be around $162,500 for the greenhouse in Inuvik and slightly less for a similar facility in Norman Wells.
The report estimates a commercial greenhouse could pull in close to $50,000 in profits in its first year.
According to Inuvik Community Greenhouse executive director Ray Solotki, a commercial greenhouse has been part of their plan for some time.
"After working closely with the Aurora Research Institute and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, the Inuvik Community Greenhouse is working on a plan for a year round commercial farm and is in talks with a modular farm out of Ontario for assistance in making the feasibility study a reality," she said, adding that the facility has operated a seasonal commercial greenhouse for the past 15 years already.
An estimated $17 million is spent every year on shipping fresh food to the region, according to the CanNor press release.
"By supporting the greenhouse feasibility studies, the Government of Canada is contributing to the diversification of the Northern economy and providing small communities a range of job opportunities in horticulture, agriculture and food processing and distribution," said NWT MP Michael McLeod.
