$2mil Government Grant for Grow Lights

Big Marble Farms gets $2.2-million government grant to install horticultural grow lights

The company to save millions on energy and be able to grow more tomatoes and cucumbers

$2mil Government Grant for Grow Lights | Stephen Tipper |

IMAGE: Tomatoes grow in a greenhouse. Tuesday the Province announced a $2.2 million grant for Big Marble Farms, located southwest of Medicine Hat, for horticultural lights that will save the company money and increase the amount of vegetables they can produce. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

A southeastern Alberta greenhouse says its future looks even brighter after receiving a $2.2-million grant from Emissions Reduction Alberta to install cutting-edge horticultural grow lights.

The Alberta government announced Tuesday that Big Marble Farms, located southwest of Medicine Hat, will install more than 5,000 horticultural grow lights, allowing the company to save big on its energy costs and cut down on its emissions while producing more tomatoes and cucumbers.

“These new lights will save millions of dollars while helping a local, family-run success story lower operating costs and build a more productive, reliable local food supply at the same time,” said Alberta Environment and Parks Minister Rebecca Schulz in a Tuesday statement.

Thanks to the new lights, the greenhouse will have up to 45 per cent more light than its current system, said the province.

“This investment will drive efficiency, sustainability and stronger yields across Big Marble Farms,” said Big Marble Farms CEO Ryan Cramer in a statement.

“This step ensures we can continue growing more with less, securing a brighter future for our farm, our people and the communities we serve.”

Big Marble Farms — which currently has more than 496,000 cucumber plants and 385,000 tomato plants — was awarded the grant through the joint federal-provincial Strategic Energy Management for Industry Program, which aims to reduce operating and maintenance costs, increase competitiveness and lower emissions through technology and innovation.