Greenhouse vegetable and herb grower

Restaurants, independent grocers, farmers' markets, and households through box schemes or farm gate sales.

Sell fresh produce by weight or bunch to wholesale and direct customers, with higher prices for out-of-season, local crops such as salad greens and herbs.

• Crop planning and plant care
• Managing heat, water and pests
• Building relationships with buyers

• Check agricultural zoning and building permits for greenhouse structures with your municipality
• Check food safety expectations for selling produce, including any buyer requirements such as GAP-style certification
• Check your provincial rules on farm business registration and WCB or WSIB coverage if you hire
• Winter heating and electricity can be a major cost, so model it carefully
• Crop disease or equipment failure can wipe out a batch quickly
• Check crop and property insurance options

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on the size of your tunnels, your land and your equipment. This covers an unheated or lightly heated polytunnel setup. A fully heated glass greenhouse costs far more and is a later step.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your crops, season length and buyers. That figure is revenue, not profit, so model winter heating, electricity and other costs carefully before you commit.

Check agricultural zoning and building permits for greenhouse structures with your municipality. Also check food safety expectations for selling produce, including buyer requirements such as GAP-style certification, and your provincial rules on farm business registration and WCB or WSIB coverage if you hire.