Pierson area entrepreneurs, Mark and Kendra Custance, have immersed themselves in the science and strategies of hydroponic growing on a large scale.  They recently purchased a sea can-type container and the Growcer hydroponics equipment to try their hand at growing greens, specifically lettuce.  And soon their fresh locally grown heads of lettuce will be available to Valleyview Co-op customers.

But this isn't their first growing operation, as they purchased Real Garlic from Oak Lake entrepreneurs Greg & Jolene Thiessen just over a year ago, all the while solidifying the plans to grow hydroponic greens.  

The Growcer method has been a successful way to grow garden greens in a number of locations across the Westman Region; Dauphin and Sioux Valley First Nations.

"We just really wanted to give people in the rural areas the same opportunities to get local fresh food year-round like people in other places have," shares Mark Custance.

"We've always had large gardens but have not grown commercially prior to this," he adds. "We've gone one full round with the garlic, one entire grow season and we've been working together with Valleyview Co-op with the selling of the garlic."

Partnering with Valleyview Co-op is a win-win for everyone and being able to grow and market the two varieties of lettuce (butter crunch and romaine lettuce) through their local Co-op store is just a glimpse of the possibilities.

Having the plants housed in a climate-controlled protected setting, and grown through hydroponics, the carbon footprint is at a minimum, and there are no bug infestations or trouble with keeping out the critters like deer.  Custance says the support they have received from the Growcer company has been outstanding.

"The garlic is an adventure for us, and the hydroponics is definitely another step, and if it's economically viable we're open to more," shares Custance.

"Actually, I'd really love to see other people look at this method of growing.  I would love to bring that farmers market into the Co-op stores year-round. Valleyview does purchase local produce at some of their stores. They buy from other producers as well.  Even though this is a new venture, it still follows what they've done before. We're just taking it to the next level and are growing produce with the Co-op's customers in mind."

With their Growcer system the Custance operation will be able to grow 800 heads of lettuce each week, at any given time of the year. That's pretty amazing and has possibilities of expansion.

"This concept brings the growing to where the people are and again, to produce that same lettuce conventionally, you'd be looking at a much higher footprint and a lot more resources, and in a very limited growing season," explains Custance.

Please listen to more with Mark and Kendra Custance below!