Avery Family Farms has won one of B.C.’s most prestigious efficiency awards for its innovative, sustainable farming approach.

This month, the farm was selected for a FortisBC Efficiency in Action Award. This award recognizes a range of business types for achieving exceptional energy savings and operating more sustainably by significantly reducing their energy usage.

Avery’s vertical farming operation takes place in a purpose-built facility designed with efficiency in mind. One of only a few large-scale vertical farms in B.C., Avery can grow as much product as a farm 100 times its size. Despite the farm’s tiny footprint, it has the potential to harvest more that 10,000 heads of fresh lettuce every day, 365 days a year thanks to ultra-efficient, precision farming methods that are up to 350x more productive than conventional farming.

“The whole team at Avery Family Farms is proud and excited to be recognized by this award in our very first year of operations,” said Garry Peters, co-owner. “We are looking forward to becoming even more energy-conscious as our operations grow, and we are working directly with FortisBC on energy-saving ideas for the future.”

Avery is looking into the potential to power the farm with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power one day.

Avery Farms will accept the award on October 17, 2024 during a ceremony at The Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver, B.C.