foodsources
major growth in microgreens
3 Guys Greens ’ vertical farm grows local , fresh greens all year round
By Sarah Ens
3 Guys Greens vertical farm
Adam Dudek and Scott Hyndman ’ s microgreens journey began with a garden tomato . In the summer of 2015 , the two friends were snacking on delicious , ripe tomatoes when they found themselves pondering how to solve a perennial challenge in Manitoba : the limited access to yearround , fresh-tasting , local vegetables . They began experimenting with small indoor vertical farming set ups in their homes and soon discovered the magic of microgreens .
The term microgreens refers to any vegetable and herb plant in its second stage of growth . Delicate and vibrant , they not only grow easily and abundantly indoors , but are also full of nutrients and big , bold flavour .
Budding love for these tiny plants propelled the pair to expand operations . Dudek ’ s background in traditional agriculture met Hyndman ’ s experience as an executive chef , and both shared a passion for sustainability and locally grown food . The two guys launched 3 Guys Greens , the largest indoor vertical farm in the province and one of the primary microgreen producers . 3 Guys Greens ’“ third guy ,” Dudek explains , is the customer — fitting for a company centred around community partnerships .
Inside the vertical farm , bright green panels of
basil hang from the ceiling — almost 15,000 plantpods in a 13,000-square-foot space and about 200 plants per square foot . This represents a 5000 per cent increase of harvested basil compared to a typical outdoor basil farm , which grows about four plants per foot . Colourful clusters of microgreens like broccoli , sunflower shoots , arugula and red cabbage are stacked in trays beneath LED lights . These little crops go from seed to harvest in just ten days and are grown throughout the year , resulting in a much higher yearly yield than harvests restricted to the fall season .
The benefits of microgreens extend beyond their speedy growing period . These mini superfoods offer more flavour than fully grown plants and up to 40 per cent more nutrients . A sunflower sprout , for example , is a protein powerhouse and packed with vitamins B and E . Dudek is particularly excited about studies indicating that broccoli microgreens may contain cancer-fighting properties , including high concentrations of sulforaphane , a compound that protects against carcinogens and promotes cell death in unhealthy cells .
The plants are watered hydroponically while a computer system runs the lights and a dosing system measures nutrient and pH levels . All the towers and
Photography courtesy 3 Guys Greens
28 ciao ! / may / jun / two thousand twenty-one