With national pride surging and consumers’ interest in supporting local businesses growing, Lufa Farms says consumer interest in knowing more about what’s on their plate is on the rise.
Lufa Farms operates a network of rooftop farms across the Greater Montreal area, offering more than 500,000 square feet of fresh-vegetable production. Founder and CEO Mohamed Hage envisioned a new model for fresh vegetables growing – on city rooftops.
Hage said his aim is to reduce reliance on imported goods, minimize the kilometres food travels, and ultimately lower environmental impact.
“We’re very aware that tariffs and any changes in politics or the food system create a lot of anxiety for everyone—ourselves, our clients, and our partners. Raw materials come from abroad, so it’s a very stressful situation for everyone involved,” said Emily Péloquin, Lufa Farms’ PR & communications coordinator. “But the silver lining is people are more conscious of the importance of having an independent food system.”
The company built the world’s first commercial rooftop greenhouse in Montreal’s Ahuntsic neighbourhood in 2011. Aiming to use no new land, it surveyed the city on Google Maps and interviewed dozens of building owners until one finally agreed to let it set up operations.
It got to work implementing composting, rainwater recirculation systems, and several different growing methods, like troughs for vining crops, nutrient film technique for herbs, ebb-and-flood benches for potted plants, and propagation and vertical LED systems for microgreens, ‘baby’ herbs and vegetables.
The company does not operate physical retail space. Instead, customers fill their carts online with hydroponic vegetables, along with dairy, meat, and other specialty items sourced through its partners. Lufa Farms collaborates with more than 450 regional growers and small-scale food makers.
Currently, it fills around 35,000 weekly orders across Quebec. Baskets are packed and delivered to clients’ homes on the same day.
Lufa Farms has since expanded its grocery delivery service to Ottawa and is evaluating locations for a potential rooftop farm there.
“There are never enough rooftops,” said Péloquin. “The demand is constant, so we’re always looking to expand.”