How Container Farming Helped This Co-op Refresh Their Fresh Food Aisle
Growcer's containerized growing system provides Yellowknife Co-op’s members with fresh, locally grown greens at affordable prices regardless of the weather!
The Co-op has custom displays to showcase their store grown greens to co-op members!
The Yellowknife Co-op’s Growcer farm was installed in March 2019, at which point they became one of the few retail grocery stores in the world to grow their own produce commercially, sustainably, and profitably year-round based on their members’ preferences.
The Co-op’s hydroponic container farm is located behind the store and maintained by their existing store associates. According to the Co-op’s General Manager, Justin Nelson, the store stocks its vegetables the same day they are harvested - a unique privilege and something the local Co-op members continue to enjoy!
Using their Growcer farm, even in the middle of winter, the Co-op can grow specific varieties of produce requested by members at affordable prices. Customers are also able to watch the produce as it grows through a live feed to a screen in the produce aisle of the store.
Their farm is producing 200-250 plants a week, and the store has been able to generate over 50% margins on a wide variety of different cultivars. In the future, other Co-ops are looking to replicate this model, and we can’t wait to expand alongside them!
Interested in learning more? View the full case study on their farm here or download a PDF version below.