Unfold and GoodLeaf Farms announced collaboration for spinach and leafy greens

Per a press release, Unfold and Canadian vertical farm GoodLeaf Farms are collaborating to "commercialize premium lines of vertically-farmed spinach and other leafy greens through Unfold’s Innovation Partner Program." 

The announcement comes as GoodLeaf is expanding around Canada with new farms in Montreal and Calgary; its current base is in Ontario. Both farms, the company says, will be operational later in 2023 and allow them to produce over four million pounds of leafy greens annually. 

“We’re very excited to collaborate with GoodLeaf to unlock the potential for improved quality and yield for their indoor growing operations,” said Unfold CEO Sonia Lo. “As a former vertical farm operator, I understand first-hand the importance of seeds that are specifically developed for indoor growing. GoodLeaf is the largest vertical grower in Canada and has already demonstrated its ability to successfully grow leafy greens in large-scale, fully commercialized vertical farms. Now, through our partnership, we will accelerate their product evolution with seed developed and optimized for their specific environment.”

“Now that we have a solid foundation in place for our operations, it’s the perfect time to partner with Unfold,” said GoodLeaf President and CEO Barry Murchie. “Having the right seeds to ensure our success is crucial as we grow our operations throughout Canada and help the country lessen its dependence on imported produce. Unfold will help us make that goal possible.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Indoor Ag-Con in Las Vegas, Unfold Chief Operator Officer David Nothmann will be moderating a conversation between Lo and Murchie.

The companies also released a video diving into the partnership. 

“All of our leafy greens are grown with passion, care and precision,” Murchie continued. “Our partnership with Unfold will help us accelerate the development of even more productive, premium-quality leafy greens. Our R&D team is excited to collaborate with their counterparts at Unfold to take our efforts a leap forward and develop new varieties with enhanced yield, taste, nutritional value and sustainability.”