He said that while his microgreen operation uses
energy for lights, it is a far more environmentally friendly option than importing produce. Scheerer started Farmstead Fresh in 2018. “I used to live in Mississauga,” he said, explaining that he was sick of his factory job and living in the city. “I wanted to do something new.” Scheerer moved to Caledon and lived at Whole Village, an environmentally conscious housing cooperative just outside of Alton. There, he started growing veggies and ran a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
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In the winter, he worked with a microgreen farmer, where he discovered the beauty of year-round sprout production. After putting an ad in a local newspaper, he found a plot of land for rent in Hillsburgh which turned out to have a house as well. Now, Farmstead Fresh grows more than 15,000 lbs of greens annually and retails across the GTA. The most popular products are the broccoli and sunflower sprouts, which take just nine to 10 days to produce. Scheerer makes deliveries to Toronto grocers and restaurants twice a week, with products reaching shelves just days after harvest. They sell wheatgrass and pea shoots, microgreen mixes and even sometimes cilantro and basil sprouts. These sprouts offer a nutrient dense dose of vitamins and minerals, even more than a regular head of lettuce or their fully-grown counterparts. Sprouts also contain sulforaphane, a powerful antioxidant, which is found in most cruciferous vegetables. Research suggests sulforaphane can protect against cancer and diabetes, reduce inflammation and even help combat heart disease. “In microgreens it’s pretty potent,” said Scheerer. His wheatgrass sprouts are often used in juice, delivering a powerful punch of nutrients and antioxidants. Farmstead Fresh is preparing for another season at the Erin Farmer’s Market and will also be offering garlic in the summer. Farmstead Fresh sprouts can be found at Hillsburgh Foodland, HeatherLea Farm Shoppe in Caledon and Harmony Whole Foods in Orangeville. For more information visit: farmsteadfresh.ca
Microgreens, not to be confused with sprouts, are essentially the edible seedlings of vegetables and herbs harvested just after the development of cotyledon leaves and usually before or just after the first set of true leaves. On a growth spectrum, Microgreens are more developed than sprouts but less developed than baby greens. Microgreens are popular with chefs and health-conscious eaters because of their nutritional variation and density, diversity of flavours and textures, as well as their brilliant colours. What are Microgreens?
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