Berry good news: Locally grown strawberries picked year-round at Alberta greenhouse
![calgary, acme, sunterra, strawberry The Sunterra Greenhouse in Acme is the only place in Canada that's growing the Duchess strawberry. (Supplied)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2022/3/2/calgary--acme--sunterra--strawberry-1-5802794-1646249981108.jpg)
Thanks to a little Alberta agricultural ingenuity, a rare strawberry that was previously unavailable in Canada, is now being grown in a greenhouse north of Calgary.
The Sunterra Greenhouse, which provides fresh fruit and vegetables for stores in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, has announced the development of a technique to grow Duchess strawberries.
The sweetest part of the arrangement is that since the farming is all indoors, Albertans can enjoy the delicious goods at any time of the year.
"We're thrilled to share our locally grown berries with Albertans who value fresh, local produce, grown right here at home," said Amanda Hehr, president of Sunterra Greenhouse.
She says that the innovation is "bridging the gap" for the province, which currently imports 90 per cent of its produce.
ACME A 'HOT SPOT' FOR SUCCESS
The company says the key to its growing lies within the walls of its 20-acre greenhouse in Acme, Alta., located approximately an hour northeast of Calgary.
There, 100,000 strawberry plants are cared for in optimal conditions to allow for year-round growth, taking advantage of Alberta's average 333 days of sun each year.
(Supplied)
They're then hand picked and delivered to Sunterra Market locations throughout the province, a much shorter distance than imported produce. That's one of the reasons they're so much better, the company says.
"The short travel distance allows the berries to be bred for maximum nutritional value and a high quality taste," the company said in a release.
On top of premium quality fruit, the greenhouse presently employs 55 full-time employees and has plans to expand that workforce to more than 200 people by the time its facility is complete.
For more details on the Sunterra Greenhouse, as well as details on how to buy your produce online and arrange for curbside pickup or delivery, visit the official website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.