GoodLeaf Farms, Canada’s leading vertical farming company, continues to grow, strengthening its position as a sustainable leader in the country’s leafy greens industry.
Andy O’Brien, President and CEO of GoodLeaf Farms, joined the company in July after an extensive research period. “I started discussions with GoodLeaf about a year ago and officially joined the company in July. Before that, I spent about six months researching the industry and the company. I reviewed employee files, strategy plans, business models, and competitive reviews. The previous CEO was stepping down for health reasons, so I was connected with him and spent three months working through the transition before officially joining. So while I’ve been here since July, in reality, it feels more like 10 months,” said O’Brien.
Founded in 2019, GoodLeaf Farms operates three large-scale vertical farms across Canada. “We are a Canadian-owned vertical farming company. We have three farms—our first was established in Guelph in 2019 and spans about 50,000 square feet. In 2023-2024, we expanded with two new farms in Calgary and Montreal, each about 115,000 square feet. That brings our total grow space to 280,000 square feet, making us the largest vertical farming company in Canada and, from what I understand, the largest in North America,” O’Brien explained.
GoodLeaf specializes in growing leafy greens, including baby greens like lettuce, romaine, and spinach, as well as nutrient-dense microgreens such as micro arugula, micro broccoli, and micro spinach. “These are highly nutrient-dense, sometimes up to 100 times, 40 times is kind of the average. They are extremely flavourful. They have a 21-day shelf life and reach stores within 10 days of harvesting. Because we operate in a controlled environment, we can grow year-round,” said O’Brien.
The company’s distribution network spans major Canadian retailers. “We pack everything in-house using automated harvesters and a traditional packaging line, similar to what you’d see in food production for juices or cereals. The real magic happens in our grow rooms—completely sealed, technologically controlled environments for light and irrigation. In our Calgary and Montreal farms, we have 1,300 large benches continuously rotating with fresh crops. Once packaged, our greens are distributed to every major grocery retailer across Canada, including Loblaws, Sobeys, Save-On-Foods, and Costco, all under the GoodLeaf brand. We’re also exploring expansion into convenience stores and drug stores,” O’Brien shared.
“There’s lots of growth opportunity.”
While GoodLeaf currently focuses on Canada, U.S. expansion is on the horizon. “Not yet, but it’s part of our long-term strategy. Over 90% of Canada’s leafy greens come from California and Arizona, requiring long transportation times that affect taste, quality, and nutrition. A vertical farming business uses a far less footprint 97% less and 99% less water, with no pesticides and a longer shelf life. Given that the northeastern U.S. faces similar supply chain challenges as parts of Canada, we see an opportunity there. But for now, our priority is to strengthen our presence in Canada,” said O’Brien.
“Because it’s farmed and then brought to the stores so quickly, the tastes are that much richer.”
Looking ahead, GoodLeaf has ambitious growth plans. “We have strong ownership partners, including the McCain family and Power Sustainable Lios out of Montreal. We have two very strong Canadian families that back us. We also have support from EDC and Farm Credit Canada. Two very strong government agencies who have been very supportive. We do have plans to continue to grow and evolve with new farms, new products and new categories,” O’Brien confirmed.
As the company continues to revolutionize farming, its long-term vision remains clear. “Our vision for the next five to seven years is to revitalize farming by providing Canadians—and eventually, the world—with healthier, sustainably grown products,” said O’Brien.
With sustainable farming at its core, GoodLeaf Farms is poised to redefine the future of agriculture in Canada and beyond.
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I switched to this brand a few weeks back, and it’s hands down the best packaged lettuce I’ve bought. GoodLeaf has a solid product, and it’s great to see a Canadian company achieve this level of growth.
I haven’t tried this brand yet, but I will look out for it. Thank you, Good Leaf Farms for being a leader in vertical farming. Cheers!🤗😊
This brand is available at Farmboy, Freshco, and Loblaws in the GTA, it’s my go to brand when I can’t make it to a farmer’s market. It would be amazing if they could expand with other herbs and greens to replace the US imported greens that dominate in grocery stores.