A Bold Step Toward Sustainable Food Autonomy
On April 30, 2025, VegPro International officially inaugurated its new 5.2-hectare Vermax glass greenhouse in Sherrington, Quebec—an ambitious, forward-looking project built in close collaboration with Harnois Greenhouses, a leading Canadian manufacturer of turnkey greenhouse solutions. This $135 million investment reflects a shared commitment to local food production, technological advancement, and sustainability.
This semi-enclosed Vermax glass greenhouse is among the largest of its kind in Canada. Designed specifically for year-round leafy green production, it enables VegPro to provide Quebec-grown lettuce 12 months a year, drastically reducing reliance on imports and strengthening the province’s food autonomy. For Quebec’s agri-food sector, this milestone signals a decisive shift: large-scale, controlled-environment agriculture is no longer a future ambition—it is happening now, at commercial scale, right here at home.
The site in Sherrington was selected for its logistical advantages, proximity to major distribution networks, and access to skilled labor—making it an ideal location for a facility designed to supply grocery chains across the province year-round.
Carbon Neutrality and Water Efficiency
The facility was developed with a clear focus on carbon neutrality. Utilizing Harnois-patented energy optimization systems, the Vermax structure is engineered to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 2,000 tonnes per year—the equivalent of taking roughly 430 cars off the road annually. These systems also translate into significant operational savings by lowering heating and energy costs—a critical advantage as energy prices continue to rise.
The building’s thermal envelope and ventilation design work together to minimize heat loss during Quebec’s harsh winters, allowing VegPro to maintain optimal growing conditions without excessive energy input. This approach positions the Sherrington facility as one of the most energy-efficient commercial greenhouses in Canada.
Innovative Glass Greenhouse Technology
In addition, the Vermax glass greenhouse integrates advanced environmental technologies, including:
- Rain and snowwater harvesting
- Closed-loop water recirculation systems
- Precision climate control
- LED supplemental lighting for consistent year-round yields
- CO₂ enrichment systems to accelerate plant growth
Together, these systems allow the greenhouse to use up to 90% less water compared to conventional open-field lettuce farming. This environmental stewardship is particularly relevant as agriculture faces growing challenges related to water scarcity, climate change, and consumer demand for responsible practices.
The glass covering itself—a key differentiator of the Vermax design—offers superior light diffusion compared to polycarbonate or film alternatives, resulting in more uniform crop development across the entire growing area. This translates directly into higher, more consistent yields per square meter.
Built for the Next Generation of Growers
The Sherrington facility is not just a technological showcase—it’s also a benchmark for operational efficiency. Equipped with automation-ready infrastructure, the structure can be adapted to integrate robotics and AI-driven monitoring systems in the future. Though the current facility appears sparsely staffed, VegPro is pursuing a progressive model where fewer but highly trained personnel manage increasingly automated processes, a necessity in today’s competitive labor market.
The structure itself reflects Harnois’ modular Vermax design, offering long spans without interior columns, flexible equipment integration, and excellent light transmission—ideal for maximizing lettuce yields while maintaining consistent quality. The column-free interior also simplifies the installation of conveyor systems, hydroponic benches, and mobile growing platforms, giving operators the flexibility to reconfigure production layouts as crop demand evolves.
This scalability is one of the core advantages that led VegPro to choose the Vermax system. As the company looks to expand production capacity in coming years, the modular architecture allows for straightforward additions without disrupting ongoing operations.
Introducing a New Crunchier Lettuce
Beyond infrastructure, VegPro is innovating on the product side as well. The company is launching a new variety of crisp lettuce, designed to meet evolving consumer preferences for texture, freshness, and shelf life. Developed in partnership with plant breeders, this cultivar was selected specifically for its performance under the controlled light and temperature conditions of the Sherrington greenhouse.
This new product will be grown exclusively in the Sherrington greenhouse and distributed under the Folia brand, with the first harvests expected to hit store shelves by fall 2025. The Folia line is positioned as a premium, locally grown alternative to imported lettuce varieties that currently dominate Quebec supermarket shelves for much of the year.
Harnois Greenhouses and VegPro Partnership
“This project is a testament to VegPro International’s confidence in Harnois Greenhouses,” said Patrice Harnois, President of Harnois. “Together with our partner Growa, we’ve delivered a facility that sets a new standard for energy efficiency and agricultural sustainability in North America.”
The collaboration between Harnois and VegPro began years before the first shovels hit the ground. Extensive feasibility studies, site analyses, and structural engineering work preceded the construction phase—ensuring that the final facility would meet both VegPro’s agronomic requirements and Harnois’ exacting standards for structural performance and energy management.
Partners on this project:
The Vermax glass greenhouse’s development also highlights the value of local collaboration. From the design and engineering to the installation and integration, Quebec-based companies worked hand in hand to realize a world-class agricultural facility, further proving that global innovation can be homegrown.
A Model for North American Agriculture
As the agriculture sector faces increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint while boosting productivity, this project stands out as a replicable model. It demonstrates how commercial glass greenhouses can be leveraged not only to extend growing seasons but also to decarbonize food production, improve water efficiency, and shorten supply chains.
The economics are compelling: by producing locally, VegPro eliminates thousands of kilometers of cold-chain transportation, reduces spoilage, and delivers fresher product to consumers. When combined with the energy savings generated by the Harnois thermal systems, the total environmental footprint of a head of Folia lettuce is dramatically lower than its imported counterpart.
In a world where climate adaptation is no longer optional, the Sherrington Vermax glass greenhouse provides a powerful example of what’s possible when innovation meets vision. With operations now underway, Harnois Greenhouses and VegPro International are helping shape the future of agriculture—one crunchy, locally grown lettuce at a time.
In the media: Produce Grower