Another Canadian grower is poised to make a transition towards the medical marijuana industry. Enniskillen Pepper Company will pick its last bell pepper crop this season and will become a production site for Tilray, a licensed medical cannabis company with existing greenhouse production in British Columbia.
Enniskillen Pepper Co. is located in Enniskillen township in the Canadian province of Ontario, within Lambton County. (Picture credit Tilray)
Tilray announced the investment in Eniskillen Pepper Co. yesterday. The company said it chose for Enniskillen because of its strategic location and strong workforce of qualified skilled agricultural professionals in the region.
It has applied for a federal license to Health Canada and it is expected that the conversion of the 13 acre greenhouse can begin this fall. In the first phase of the project, the property will house a 10-acre cannabis greenhouse facility containing approximately 40,000 square feet of processing space. The facility is expected to increase Tilray’s current production capacity five-fold by the end of 2018.
The property of Enniskillen Pepper is 100 acres in size. The company was founded in 2005 by Jack Greydanus and his wife Christine from scratch. Next to greenhouse production, the Greydanus family is also specialized in raising roosters and hens.
Originally their greenhouse company was six acres in size, but expanded with another seven acres within the first ten years of operation. They always have been growing both red and yellow bell peppers. In 2005, when celebrating their ten year anniversary, the company was thinking about another future expansion towards 25 acres, owner Jack Greydanus then told the observer.
“We embrace all opportunities for growth and development. From pepper plants to cannabis, our region is known for its agricultural capability. This investment will allow our community the chance to be part of a growing industry and allows the region to showcase its agricultural capability.” – Jack Greydanus commented on the investment in his company.