One of the major concerns in indoor food production is the often high energy costs. With solar and wind not yet at a capacity that can power real industries, Freshbay in Alberta, Canada, looks to differentiate themselves by using geothermal heating, cutting high energy costs and carbon taxes.
"I initially envisioned differentiating myself from the competition with a variety of products and potentially automating my whole facility. As I became more immersed in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) space, I realized that what I truly needed to differentiate my company was to find a solution to high energy costs and carbon taxes while providing well-paying jobs for the local community. Along my journey, I have built an amazing team, and they have inspired many of my ideas, focal points, and vision for Freshbay," says Vic Reddy, CEO of Freshbay Inc.
As Vic was pivoting from the cannabis industry, indoor food production seemed like the next logical step and one that is now paying off.
"Speaking with our now strategic partners at Novus Earth Energy accelerated my desire to marry indoor food production with geothermal energy. We have the ability to power, heat, and cool our greenhouses with the amazing tech that Novus Earth has tailored for this specific project."
Partnerships
Now, Freshbay has multiple partnerships that are not only strategic but almost crucial to their success, as Vic states.
"Novus Earth and CEO Jeff Messner and his team are taking care of our geothermal drilling, heating and cooling, and CO2 needs. We intend on exclusively working with Novus Earth on all of our future locations. Affinor Growers has also been crucial, as they allow me to take my cultivation experience to another level and produce a product (Affinoria Fragaria Strawberry) that is highly sought after. Nick Brusatore, CEO at Affinor, has been wonderful to work with and has worked diligently to assist in getting this project off the ground. F&G Strategic Partners are underwriting our deal, and Joseph Tsai has been instrumental in bringing my vision for Freshbay to reality."
Produce
Freshbay will primarily be producing the Affinoria Fragaria Strawberry with the technology and consult from another one of Freshbay's strategic partners, over at Affinor Growers. The climate in Northern Alberta, especially in the valley where Freshbay is located, is very dry and cool/cold most of the year, making it an ideal environment for strawberries as it allows Freshbay to cold pick, store, and deliver their products. This allows for a longer shelf life, an almost photoshop-like aesthetic, and an unparalleled taste and fragrance, according to Vic.
"We also plan on operating an R&D division for a variety of exotic fruits such as bananas, papaya, dragon fruit, and passionfruit."
For more information:
Vic Reddy, CEO
Freshbay Inc.
Tel.: 800-430-4610
Email: [email protected]
https://www.freshbay.ca/