Frequently Asked Questions

Indoor vertical farming is a method of growing food vertically that is planted in controlled environment.  This method allows us to grow significantly more produce on a small footprint.  In one small farming unit we are able to grow the equivalent of 2.5 acres of produce annually.  Our vertical farm controls the water supply and climate necessary for optimal plant growth.    

Northern Smart Farms is an indigenous owned and operated indoor vertical farming company that provides fresh produce to the consumer and restaurant industries in Thunder Bay and surrounding areas, as well as the far north communities. 

We grow various fresh vegetables including lettuce, spinach, and other leafy greens and herbs for direct to consumer and restaurants with the aim to support the growing local food movement in Thunder Bay and the Northwest Region. 

Northern Smart Farms is an incorporated business, based on a for-profit social enterprise model with the vision of becoming a major local supplier of fresh produce in the region.  

Using a socially and environmentally conscious business model, the core mission of Northern Smart Farms is to deliver food security for the communities we service while providing a product aimed to support both the physical and mental health of our consumers.         

Northern Smart Farms core values will ensure our environmental footprint is minimalized. We will be able to deliver groceries to the end user in weeks shorter time, while eliminating deliveries of vegetables from thousands of kilometers away. 

Our operation is a hyper local farm meaning our food can go from farm to plate in hours.  This elimination of storage and travel paired with the extremely efficient farm system ensures our operation is the most sustainable option available.  

As our climate continues to change, extreme weather conditions such as drought and flooding are becoming more common while fertile land and water supply are becoming scarcer. Large-scale food production and distribution has had a significant impact on the earth’s ecosystem, and it is continuing to affect our water levels and biodiversity. With new and ongoing concerns with supply chain issues and food security, Northern Smart Farms is committed to providing our communities with secure, sustainable and affordable solutions for their food supplies.

Northern Smart is Using a socially and environmentally conscious business model, the core mission of Northern Smart Farms is to deliver food security for the communities we service while providing a product aimed to support both the physical and mental health of our consumers.  

Our goal is to have a zero waste operation ensuring that 100% of our production finds is way to someone's plate.  Any food not purchased is donated to a number of local charities to support those in need.   

Our food is grown in optimal growing conditions and in a controlled environment.  We have a farm management system that is constantly monitoring the growing conditions of our food.  We grow our food in a hydroponic drip system that administers water to the root system.  The water is city sourced and nutrients are added to ensure the plant is getting optimal nourishment.  

Being free of soil allows us to be pesticide and herbicide free, which produces the cleanest herbs and vegetables available to the market.   

Our product is the highest quality and freshest available year round.  Our controlled environment and farm management system allows us to harvest at the optimal time ensuring the consumers always get the same quality and freshness.  

Our product is grown locally and sold and delivered as early as the day it is harvested. This gives our products a long shelf life, high quality, and the freshest taste.  Compared to the traditional grocery store produce that has spent days, even weeks travelling thousands of kilometers to its final destination. This results in lower quality food that goes bad in days.       

Our food tastes as good as fresh from the garden, which is amazing.  

Our food is not considered organic because it is not soil based.  It is however free of herbicides and pesticides, and contains only the required nutrients to grow the healthiest food.  

Click the person icon next to the shopping cart on the navigation menu.  Click create account and add personal information, and click create.  You will be sent a verification email to activate the account.  Follow the link and create a password.  Your account is now active.

Your personal data is secured through Go Daddy's online platform as well as our own blanket security network that protects every aspect of our operation.  We ensure that we follow the Canadian Cyber Security Guidelines.

We will fully refund any damaged product.  Provide us with a photo of the damaged product within 24 hours of the delivery and we will refund the purchase price of the product to your method of payment.  If inventory allows, we will resend the product on the next delivery date.