The AquaVerti Story

In the frigid Canadian climate, growing a year-round supply of fresh fruits and vegetables is out of the question, leaving most of Canada’s produce supply in the hands of foreign imports.  In Canada’s more remote areas, access to fresh food is even scarcer as transportation costs keep produce prices high. But in Montreal, the innovators at AquaVerti Urban Farms are “looking to change the world of agriculture” by growing fresh produce indoors in Canada and beyond.

Seeking to fulfill Canada’s need for sustainably grown, high-quality vegetables, George Aczam and Stephen Moss began their venture into hydroponic lettuce growing two and a half years ago. After visiting farms throughout the US, George and Stephen were inspired to take the existing model for hydroponic growing to the next level. The duo jumped into designing their first vertical farm, pulling certain strategies from farms they liked and combining them with new methods and technologies. Their introduction to the TSRgrow™ team came at the perfect time. “We knew that lights were a very, very critical part of the equation. We began by getting sample lights from quite a number of different companies. We started testing all of those lights, to see which light would ultimately serve our purposes,” remarks Stephen. After careful testing, they decided to fully outfit their grow with TSRgrow™ TG-30HVR LED grow lights.

Sustainably Grown

Designed for sustainability and efficiency, the AquaVerti building prioritizes low waste while producing premium quality produce. In the grow, 16 ft. towers holding layers of hydroponic beds maximize their growing space and minimize waste production to as low as 5%, and with a reliance on hydropower, no excess C02 is released into the atmosphere. “As opposed to traditional farming, we use much less resources, ...a fraction of the water... and a fraction of the land to get a premium product,” says Stephen.