Shipping container in downtown Cornwall grows greens all year

CBC Ottawa took a tour of a freightfarm housed inside a shipping container in Cornwall, Ont., which yields produce all year long with hydroponic lighting.

"We envision hundreds of these in Canada. There's no reason why we couldn't have 10 of them stacked together here in Cornwall, or in Ottawa, or in larger markets," said Eric Bergeron, one of the co-founders ofSmart Greens.

The freight farm holds about 3,600 plants in about 300 square metres of space.

The plants are held in vertical aluminumtowers filled with synthetic rock wool instead of soil. An automated system delivers water and nutrients, and pools unused water to be put back into the system.

The farm produces 200 to300 packages of kale, spinach andbasil each week, and the company sells themto restaurants in the area.

"So it's not local, it's hyperlocal. It's, literally, right out of the door," Bergeronsaid.

To take an audio tour of the farm, click the Soundcloud player below.

• On mobile? Click here to listen.