Largest greenhouse in Quebec officially inaugurated
By Canadian Packaging staff
General cucumber-growing in Canada Toundra GreenhouseMission accomplished for Toundra Greenhouse - Quebec's largest greenhouse complex with year-round production officially inaugurated.
SAINT-FÉLICIEN, QC—Toundra Greenhouse management, accompanied by the Premier of Quebec and several officials and partners, officially inaugurated its greenhouse complex that is destined to become the largest in Quebec.
Toundra Greenhouse is a cucumber-growing complex and four-phase project, which, upon completion, will have absorbed an investment of $100 million and created over 500 jobs. In phase 1, annual production will reach over 45 million Lebanese and English cucumbers.
“For us, creating Toundra Greenhouse is an extraordinary accomplishment,” says Toundra chief executive officer Éric Dubé. “It will create jobs, diversify our local economy, and bring innovation in the form of technology and energy efficiency.”
The achievement of this ambitious project required the participation of local investors who understand the major challenges facing rural communities.
Resolute Forest Products president and chief executive officer Richard Garneau was inspired by the innovative efforts being developed in the region to ensure its economic diversification. He joined the group in spring 2013.
“What’s unique about this greenhouse complex is that it covers 25 per cent of its heating needs by using heat waste from Resolute’s Saint-Félicien pulp mill. At full capacity, reusing heat waste from Resolute’s cogeneration facilities as an alternative heat source will allow Toundra Greenhouse to lower its heating costs while enabling the mill to reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions at a rate equivalent to removing more than 2,000 vehicles from the road per year,” says Garneau.
Known in the business community as entrepreneurs who value regional development, Bertrand Fradet and his daughters Caroline and Isabelle seized the opportunity to invest in this project to ensure its success.
“Our company’s ultimate goal is to make Quebec a self-sufficient producer of the vegetables it consumes, thereby reducing imports from outside the province,” explains Toundra Greenhouse senior vice-president Caroline Fradet. “It’s an innovative project because of the technology it uses, and especially because of its crucial synergy with our neighbor, the Resolute pulp mill.”
The Quebec government, and in particular Premier Philippe Couillard, also played a key role in Toundra Greenhouse’s creation, making every effort to see it come to life. Mr. Couillard believes it is absolutely essential for Quebec’s regions, and especially for Saguenay−Lac-Saint-Jean, to have men and women who believe in the potential of their regions.
Toundra Greenhouse was also fortunate enough to have another key partner: Denis Lebel, Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Jean. An important figure in the federal government, Denis Lebel eagerly agreed to contribute his experience and energy to the project.
It is important to mention that over 50 Saguenay−Lac-Saint-Jean businesses played a role in developing this project and making it a success. We also owe the success of this project to the invaluable support of Sobeys Québec, who will distribute the majority of Toundra’s production in its 420 points of sale.
Now that production has begun, Toundra Greenhouse will be able to compete with Mexico, California, Spain and Ontario, who, until now, supplied 95 percent of the cucumbers consumed in Quebec.
“We have built the most technologically advanced greenhouse complex in Canada,” says Dubé. “After over two years of hard work, we can finally say—mission accomplished!”
Toundra Greenhouse uses Dutch technology, considered to be a global leader in greenhouse production technology in terms of productivity and reduced environmental impact.
For company information, visit www.serrestoundra.com.
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