Hydroponic lettuce farmer thriving in face of national E. coli outbreak

Many restaurants across the province are choosing to pull salads with romaine lettuce from their menus, in light of a E. coli outbreak linked to the leafy greens, but one Monctonbistro isn't worried about its caesar salad.

The Public Health Agency of Canada said there have been five cases ofE. coliinfections in New Brunswickwhen it announced a national outbreak in mid-December.

Health Canada has confirmed 41 E.coliinfections across the country, and the agency has linkedthe illness to romaine lettuce, but it still hasn't found the specific supplier as the source of the outbreak.

• Everything you need to know about the E. coli risk from romaine lettuce

At Tony's Bistro, head chef Jordan Holden said he's aware of the public health warning about romaine lettuce. While he saidhis bistro serves about 36 kilograms of lettuce a week, he isn't concerned.

"Since we're getting it locally grown, it's not really a big deal for us," said Holden.

"I've been to the plant where it comes from I was never worried about it."

Holden buys from Local by Atta, a hydroponic, indoor farm inthe MonctonIndustrial Park. He tried the greens at a local farmer's market about a year ago and liked them so much he decided to serve themat his restaurant.

On Thursday, with a winter storm raging outside, Julian Howattwas warm and basking in a pink light inside his hydroponic farm. "Farm hands" wearing hair and beard nets carried trays of leafy greens up and down the stairs of the multi-level operation.

"We grow leafy greens, primarily lettuce, but also kale,microgreens, basil that kind of stuff," Howatt said.

He'snoticed an increased interest in his product since romaine lettuce and E. colibecame synonymous in the news over the last few weeks.

• National E. coli outbreak has some Island businesses taking extra precautions

"We have had people ask us aboutromaine lettuce more traffic on our Facebook page, people asking us questions, either about that or where they can get our products."

According to Health Canada, acommon source of E.coli illness are raw fruits and vegetables that have come in contact with the feces of infected animals.

And Howatt said at his plant, "growing indoors, hydroponically like this, the risks are very low."

Chain restaurants, includingSwiss Chalet, Montana's Cookhouse, Kelsey's, EastSide Mario's and Boston Pizza, are pulling romaine lettuce from their menus.

• Romaine lettuce temporarily pulled from major restaurant chains

In Greater Moncton, locally owned restaurants such as Vito's and the Homesteadcontinue to serve romaine lettuce, while others, includingHynesRestaurant, have opted to temporarily remove it from the menu.

Chef Holden said he would most likely opt out of serving the lettuce if he wasn't so confident in the greens he's getting.

"I think it's a little riskier if you get it from a big supplier."

AndJulian Howatt said that's the kind of confidence that comes from being able to speak with a supplier directly.