Delta council last week agreed to forward to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) an application by a large-scale cannabis greenhouse in East Ladner to add an additional migrant farm worker housing structure to accommodate workers that are isolating due to illness.
The application by Houweling Nurseries Property Ltd., located at 2776 64 St., would see the new housing within the existing migrant farm worker housing farm home plate.
The 37-hectare (92 acre) site is within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and contains the large greenhouse operation, a farmhouse, an additional farmhouse and existing migrant farm worker housing, all of which will be retained. There would also be no increase to the number of workers, which is currently at 128.
The city supports the application but ALC approval is required for a non-adhering residential use for temporary farm worker housing.
The operation is called Boundary Bay Cannabis, a partnership with Agra Ventures Ltd.
Meanwhile, another large-scale cannabis operation in East Delta continues to expand its business.
Owned by Village Farms International, Pure Sunfarms recently announced its launch into additional Canadian markets.
The operation in the 4700-block of 80 Street will now be supplying cannabis products for the Yukon, Northwest Territories, New Brunswick, and, in the weeks ahead, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Pure Sunfarms is now present in 10 provinces and territories, which cover 98 per cent of total legal cannabis sales in Canada.
Pure Sunfarms says both Northern and Atlantic Canada are experiencing increases in retail cannabis sales.
The company also recently announced that it has expanded its brand portfolio for the first time into the “value segment” with the launch of The Original Fraser Valley Weed Co., a recreational weed brand that offers bulk dried flower.
Pure Sunfarms already had 1.1 million square feet in its greenhouse operation, having the capacity to produce 75,000 to 80,000 kg of dried flower annually for the Canadian recreational market.
Pure Sunfarms has also been planning to convert a second 1.1 million square foot adjacent greenhouse for production, and half of that facility is already in full operation.
Once fully converted, the operation will have the capacity to produce over 150,000 kilograms.
