BFF plans $30M McKenzie Seeds building overhaul

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This article was published 07/10/2023 (728 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon Fresh Farms is set to invest $30 million in converting the historic McKenzie Seeds building in Brandon into a state-of-the-art controlled environment agricultural farm.

The initiative is set to bring numerous benefits to the community, including job opportunities, sustainable farming practices and a boost to local food security.

“BFF aims to renovate and repurpose the historic McKenzie Seeds building into a state-of-the-art controlled environment agricultural farm with a main-level market garden to sell directly to the community,” BFF president Adam Morand disclosed to the Sun. “Thirty million is our expected budget for renovations, equipment, hiring and staffing to make BFF profitable and a contributing entity to Brandon.”

He also disclosed that BFF will be the owner of the McKenzie Seeds building, as the transaction is being completed in October and land titles should be updated before the end of the month. Morand added that AgriPlay Ventures Incorporated — which he founded — is and will remain a significant shareholder of Brandon Fresh Farms Inc. for the foreseeable future.

“The transaction details will be shared with the city later this month as land titles get updated upon closing,” he said. “The prior owner of the McKenzie Seeds building is very supportive of Brandon Fresh Farms, and the purchase agreement is beneficial to all parties, a very amicable transaction.”

He went on to elaborate on the project’s progress, as he explained that the preliminary project plan has been completed successfully, which is why BFF has proceeded with the purchase agreement.

“We are in Brandon next week, meeting with the city, the province, heritage and many others to ensure all agencies are aware of our intentions,” Morand told the Sun. “AgriPlay has committed significant resources to date and is investing in our dedicated BFF team to execute the buildout. We will be in planning for the next few months and start construction in 2024. If all goes well, we should be producing before the end of 2024.”

The CEA farm, according to Morand, is expected to yield significant quantities of various crops per month, providing the community with fresh and locally grown produce.

Morand shared the anticipated production numbers as 2.43 metric tonnes of basil, 38.14 metric tonnes of Sweetie organic cherry tomatoes, 3.43 metric tonnes of organic chives, 31.06 metric tonnes of Roma tomatoes, and 9.60 metric tonnes of Sato organic cilantro.

Others are 31.84 metric tonnes of Corentine hybrid cucumbers, 5.77 metric tonnes of Grand Rapids lettuce, 4.74 metric tonnes of Greek oregano, 4.03 metric tonnes of snap peas, 9.07 metric tonnes of organic California wonder peppers, 0.83 metric tonnes of Carolina reaper peppers, and 3.79 metric tonnes of Habanero peppers,among others.

“Our intent is to sell premium produce directly to the community, with surplus going to secondary offtake agreements, and we also anticipate contributing to local food banks and food security organizations. This will likely lead to increased affordability for consumers in Brandon,” Morand added.

In terms of job opportunities, he explained that BFF plans to create between 20 to 37 full-time jobs and an additional 25 to 80 part-time jobs. Morand expressed confidence in Brandon’s labour pool, emphasizing that the CEA systems do not require highly specialized skills.

He assured that his team is currently in communication with heritage and historical authorities and will be working closely to preserve as much of the history of the building as possible.

“Our equipment and technology are specialized and designed to be non-permanent, ensuring minimal impact on the building’s architectural and historical aspects,” he reassured.

The City of Brandon’s economic development director, Gerald Cathcart, weighed in on the impact of the investment on Manitoba’s second-largest city, as he explained that the local economy will certainly benefit initially from the investment in the building and more importantly the long-term impact of staff, their families, salaries and their contribution to downtown Brandon.

“A conservative multiplier for non-residential construction investment is 1.6 times, giving Brandon Fresh Farms a total impact of $48 million,” Cathcart told the Sun. “Another benefit to the local economy is that buying locally keeps money within the community.”

He said that locally grown food typically travels shorter distances from farm to plate, reducing the carbon emissions associated with transportation, and this helps mitigate climate change. That is not all. He also explained that such sustainable farming practices tend to be more mindful of soil health, water conservation and biodiversity, preserving these resources for future generations.

“A reliance on local food sources can enhance food security by reducing dependence on distant suppliers and long supply chains that can be vulnerable to disruptions,” he said. “Locally grown food is often fresher because it doesn’t have to travel long distances. This means it retains more of its nutritional value compared to produce that’s been in transit for extended periods.”

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett, who confirmed that he is meeting with the group next week, said if the deal goes through, it will bring significant changes to the block and the downtown area.

“It will certainly change that block in a significant way — new businesses, new jobs. And it’s sort of a new economy because it will have a potentially positive impact on the area. But in the old farm terms, I’m not going to count my chickens before they’ve hatched.”

The McKenzie Seeds building has an interesting history.

According to the Manitoba Historical Society, garden seed distributor A.E. McKenzie & Company moved into the seven-storey building in 1910.

After the provincial government eventually acquired the company’s shares from its founder, the A.E. McKenzie Seeds Company operated as a wholly owned Crown Corporation until December 1994, when it was sold to the largest non-retail, mail-order company in Canada. In 1996, this building gained provincial recognition as a designated historic site, marked by a plaque unveiled by the Manitoba Heritage Council on its east-facing exterior.

“Subsequently, in 2002, the management group took ownership of the company, and it changed hands again when it was sold to a Norwegian firm four years later,” it stated.

“In December 2008, A.E. McKenzie & Company moved to a new, single-storey building a few blocks away. The original building was then purchased by developers from British Columbia.”

By 2011, the society stated that there were ambitious plans to renovate the building, to be named McKenzie Towers, and transform it into 93 condo units. However, by early 2013, the project encountered difficulties, leading to a change in plans. The focus shifted toward developing the building into rental apartments. Since 2016, the historic structure has stood vacant, awaiting its next chapter.

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