Lufa Farms

. Lufa Farms states on its website a goal of building a "better food system". The company claims it achieves its goal by growing more food closer to where people live, while using less space and resources to minimize environmental impacts. With four rooftop greenhouses in the Montreal area, the company currently has 300,000 square feet of growing space where over 50 of types of vegetables are grown. The company currently delivers around 20,000 baskets every week to over 500 pick-up points across Quebec. == History ==

The company was started by Mohamed Hage, inspired by the rooftop gardens in Lebanon. Lauren Rathmell, Kurt Lynn, and Yahya Badran were also involved in the founding. Lufa Farms opened its first commercial rooftop greenhouse in the Ahuntsic borough of Montreal. The greenhouse had 31,000 square feet of vegetable production and housed the company's herb, micro-greens, cucumber, and pepper production using both horizontal and vertical farming systems. 2020 The company finished the completion of their Ville Saint Laurent greenhouse in the spring of 2020.The greenhouse measures 164,000 square feet and reached full production in August 2020. == Farming techniques ==

Lufa Farms grows its crops on rooftops. In its operations, it uses a coconut fiber substrate using a hydroponic system. Water is recirculated and rain and meltwater are added into the closed-loop system. Lufa Farms does not use synthetic herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides. It relies primarily on bio-controls consisting of the introduction of predatory insects. Green waste is composted and sold on Lufa Farms' Marketplace or is sent to municipal or other partner composting sites. == Gallery ==

File:Lufa Farms - Mohamed Hage.jpg|Mohamed Hage, founder of Lufa Farms File:Lufa Farms Plant Science Team Member.jpg|Plant science team member File:Lufa Farms Greenhouse Staff.jpg|Vegetables harvest File:Lufa Farms Greenhouse Staffers.jpg|Preparation of vegetable baskets File:Lufa Farms Boston Lettuce.jpg|Boston lettuce File:Lufa Farms Red Cocktail Tomato Row.jpg|Tomato rows File:Lufa Farms Swiss Chard Growing in NFT System.jpg|Chard Growing in nutrient film system File:Lufa Farms First Greenhouse Construction.jpg|Construction of the first greenhouse in Montreal, Quebec (2011) File:Lufa Farms Laval rooftop greenhouse.jpg|Construction of the new greenhouse in Laval, Quebec (2013) == See also ==