Metadata
This project was motivated by the need for local, low input/low cost, secure production of food
in regions of the province that are isolated, and which may have difficulty obtaining fresh fruits
and vegetables at key times of the year when growing conditions are limited. The interior of
British Columbia, such as the area surrounding Revelstoke, offers an ideal environment to initiate
studies such as this due to seasonal travel/delivery issues, and sensitivity to alterations in
temperature and sunlight exposure. Lettuce is a low temperature, low light crop and its
perishable nature and limited shelf life make it particularly attractive to cultivate in locations
where seasonal access and delivery may be an issue. Production of lettuce and other salad
greens could give a competitive advantage to local producers who can satisfy local demand.
In addition to these prevailing conditions, climate predictions anticipate that as global
temperatures rise, snow fall and accumulation in this region will likely be reduced, to be
replaced with increased rainfall and accompanying cloud cover1. The combination of these
effects over the next 30 to 50 years could have very serious implications for the agricultural
opportunities for regions such as the B.C. interior. As environmental and climate conditions
change, it is important to identify and cultivate crops, and to develop supporting technologies,
which facilitate commercial viability under a wide variety of conditions and locations.
This project supplies producers with a blueprint for greenhouse fabrication that will withstand
snow accumulation in mountain/high altitude conditions, encourage and maintain plant
growth/crop productivity and maximize light exposure and minimize input costs such as artificial
lighting and heating. In addition to greenhouse fabrication, 11 different varieties of hardy, cold
tolerant commercial leafy vegetable were trialed to identify potential commercially viable
winter salad greens that may be grown under low temperature/low light conditions.
in regions of the province that are isolated, and which may have difficulty obtaining fresh fruits
and vegetables at key times of the year when growing conditions are limited. The interior of
British Columbia, such as the area surrounding Revelstoke, offers an ideal environment to initiate
studies such as this due to seasonal travel/delivery issues, and sensitivity to alterations in
temperature and sunlight exposure. Lettuce is a low temperature, low light crop and its
perishable nature and limited shelf life make it particularly attractive to cultivate in locations
where seasonal access and delivery may be an issue. Production of lettuce and other salad
greens could give a competitive advantage to local producers who can satisfy local demand.
In addition to these prevailing conditions, climate predictions anticipate that as global
temperatures rise, snow fall and accumulation in this region will likely be reduced, to be
replaced with increased rainfall and accompanying cloud cover1. The combination of these
effects over the next 30 to 50 years could have very serious implications for the agricultural
opportunities for regions such as the B.C. interior. As environmental and climate conditions
change, it is important to identify and cultivate crops, and to develop supporting technologies,
which facilitate commercial viability under a wide variety of conditions and locations.
This project supplies producers with a blueprint for greenhouse fabrication that will withstand
snow accumulation in mountain/high altitude conditions, encourage and maintain plant
growth/crop productivity and maximize light exposure and minimize input costs such as artificial
lighting and heating. In addition to greenhouse fabrication, 11 different varieties of hardy, cold
tolerant commercial leafy vegetable were trialed to identify potential commercially viable
winter salad greens that may be grown under low temperature/low light conditions.
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Audience
Commodity