Salad lovers will be able to access locally grown greens and microgreens year round in Salmon Arm, thanks to Living Leaf Growers.
Located at Westgate Public Market, co-owner Karen Dow says the company has been working on developing a commercial hydroponic system for two years under the direction of Wolf Wesle of Green Croft Gardens organic farm in Enderby.
While the produce will not be certified organic, Dow says it is as good as organic.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 all done in water, no chemicals; it91裸聊视频檚 grown with just nutrients,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淲e are testing different types of nutrients as some are better than others.91裸聊视频�
The produce will be grown in racks that go 24 feet high, consisting of seven rows, in four different sections. At the moment, Living Leaf is running about 25 per cent of the system but planning to be up to 50 per cent soon.
91裸聊视频淲e have eight different lettuce types that feed into a salad mix and we want to test different combinations of colours, types, textures and tastes,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淲e want to come up with their own best seller and we need help to do that.91裸聊视频�
For the next two or three months while production ramps up, Living Leaf will prepare sample mixes of lettuce and invite a test group to buy a bag of salad or microgreens for $1 and provide feedback on how long it lasts in the fridge, texture and taste.
As well as lettuce and microgreens, Living Leaf is planning to grow strawberries and probably cherry tomatoes.
Microgreens are a vegetable green, harvested after sprouting as shoots, that are used as a component or ingredient to enhance the attractiveness and taste of dishes with their delicate textures and distinctive flavours.
91裸聊视频淲e have the capacity to grow 28,000 heads of lettuce a month and 700 strawberry plants and I don91裸聊视频檛 know what the numbers are, but we can grow a lot of microgreens year round,91裸聊视频� says Dow. 91裸聊视频淟ettuce, mixed salad lettuce and strawberries will be available all year round, but the strawberries won91裸聊视频檛 be available until next spring.91裸聊视频�
Dow says the first batch of lettuce will be harvested on Dec. 17, with lots more becoming available in January and February.
To join the test market and register for the lettuce and microgreen program, go online to www.westgatepublicmarket.com, click on the Living Leaf Growers page and fill out the registration form.
91裸聊视频淲hen we have lettuce and/or microgreens available, we will notify you by email to come in and pick up your bag,91裸聊视频� Dow says, noting people may only buy one bag at a time and will be required to fill out a questionnaire before they can buy more.
barb.brouwer@saobserver.net
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