Whitehorse greenhouse to sell hydroponic greens, a first in Yukon

The owners of aWhitehorse greenhouse are growing the territory's first commercially-produced hydroponic greens.

"We've gone into lettuce production and we're going with about fouror fivedifferent varieties," said Yukon Gardens owner Lorne Metropolit, standing by rows of recently-potted greens in a hot greenhousejust off the Alaska Highway.

He expects his new hydroponics unit to produce a high yield in a small space, something he says is importantbecause of the cost to heat and run a greenhouse.

Metropolit's daughter,Kelsey the head grower on sitesaysshe's excited to offer customers greens that include the roots, which she says help themstay fresh longer.

Butthere have been challenges along the way, some of them expensive. Equipment and labour costs have added up.

"Trying to find solutions to those challenges, that's part of growing in the North.There's always the unexpected," said Kelsey.

"We thought we could do it for maybe three or four thousand [dollars].Yeah, we're up to 25," saidLorne.

The first harvest shouldbe ready sometime around the end of May,and the produce will be available in some local Whitehorse stores.

The Metropolits are alsoconsidering growing hydroponic greens year round.