In a continuation of our growth journey, Big Marble Farms Inc. is pleased to announce their next expansion. "We are adding 10 acres of vegetable greenhouse and a state-of-the-art 6MW cogeneration power plant", they say.
This will take Big Marble Farms to a total of 45 acres in production to support the needs of their growing greenhouse and packhouse business.
From left to right, Big Marble Farms partners Rick Wagenaar, Ryan Cramer (CEO), and Albert Cramer
Western Canada
Big Marble Farms is a second-generation family-run greenhouse and packhouse operation, supplying long English cucumbers, mini cucumbers, tomatoes on the vine and beefsteak tomatoes with other tomato varieties on the horizon.
With the new greenhouse, the company will be expanding their offering to customers throughout Western Canada.
“We are passionate about growing, and this is an opportunity for our organization to take the next step in offering a consistent supply of healthy, local produce, year-round", says Ryan Cramer, CEO and partner of Big Marble farms.
Indeed: year-round growing it is. As well as earlier greenhouse stages also the new greenhouse will be equipped with grow lights. Prins Greenhouses will be building the greenhouse portion, and the rest of the construction will be done by local contractors.
Photo of one of the current greenhouses of Big Marble Farms.
Heating the greenhouse
Big Marble Farms has selected Martin Energy Group to supply Siemens generators with waste heat recovered to heat their greenhouses. "By using the waste heat, we reduce the amount of natural gas required to heat our facilities and save the associated emissions. This is a continuation of our commitment to sustainability and leadership in the greenhouse industry", Ryan says. Commissioning is scheduled for August 2020.
Big Marble Farms is working with the City of Medicine Hat utility on the possibility of interconnection for their generation project to further optimize the capture of waste heat. This cogeneration project was made possible in part by funding from Energy Efficiency Alberta’s Custom Energy Solutions program, which helps large commercial and industrial facilities reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "We are thankful to the Custom Energy Solutions team for their support for this project", Ryan says. "The new addition will enhance our existing facility and the power plant will provide safe, sustainable power so that we can continue to do what we do best. This investment will aid our company’s growing demand for safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly energy, while maintaining our standard of excellence in growing fresh, local produce."
For more information:
Big Marble Farms
www.bigmarble.ca