MORRIS: Les Verts Living: Winnipeg’s best-kept secret for year-round fresh produce


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When winter hits, quality produce often takes a backseat, but Les Verts Living, one of Winnipeg’s best-kept secrets, is here to change that. This local gem is redefining what it means to enjoy fresh, vibrant greens and herbs all year long. Les Verts started with a simple idea from founders Rachel Green and her father Kerry: to bring the highest-quality produce to their community.

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Winnipeg locals Rachel and Kerry, both passionate about agriculture, transformed their vision into a thriving staple that offers premium, living lettuce, herbs, and more. Today, Les Verts empowers Winnipeggers not just with produce but also with resources to make enjoying nutrient-rich food at home easier than ever.

“After years of perfecting our equipment and techniques, we realized just how easy it was for anyone to use our system and grow beautiful produce. We want to share our knowledge so more people can access fresh, local food all year.” – Rachel Green

How their growing systems work

Now, let’s look at what makes their growing systems truly stand out. Les Verts’ success lies in their unique indoor vertical gardening system. Picture rows of vibrant greens stacked vertically, thriving even as snow piles up outside. This setup maximizes space and creates ideal growing conditions for our Canadian climate — perfect for urban areas or limited outdoor spaces. Les Verts has fine-tuned their process to provide just the right amount of light, water, and care to each plant.

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Predictability, production, and quality are key advantages of their hydroponic system. Les Verts is one of the first in Canada to use special LED light spectrums, ensuring top-quality greens. And it’s not just about advanced technology — Les Verts prioritizes sustainability by using up to 90% less water and 75% less fertilizer than traditional farming, all without pesticides. This controlled environment results in cleaner produce, fresh from their garden to your table.

LED lights at Les Verts
Les Verts is one of the first in Canada to use special LED light spectrums, ensuring top-quality greens. Photo by Handout /Winnipeg Sun

I absolutely love using their basil for my bruschetta, and Les Verts’ dill is my go-to for warm potato salad or any salmon dish. Their lettuce is so flavorful that it’s hard to go back to using any other kind in my salads. It’s amazing how having these aromatic herbs and greens on hand can transform a meal and make cooking that much more enjoyable.

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But Les Verts doesn’t just stop at providing flavorful produce through their subscription program—they also offer ways for you to bring the experience home. If you’re thinking about growing your own greens, Les Verts offers indoor garden systems that cater to different needs, from personal use to schools and community spaces. These systems are designed to be user-friendly and low-maintenance. With automated lights and nutrient pumps, you could go on vacation for 2 weeks and come back to thriving plants.

One of their popular options is the Les Verts Terrace indoor garden, a Canadian-made hydroponic system that makes it easy for anyone to grow their produce with just 10 minutes of care per week. It has space to grow enough for 16 heads of lettuce, 40 bunches of herbs, 8 large tomato plants, or even 4 flats of microgreens. If you’re looking for more growing power, their larger 3-tier system can handle up to 48 heads of lettuce, 120 bunches of herbs, 24 tomato plants, 36 pepper plants, or 12 flats of microgreens, giving you flexibility to grow everything your heart desires.

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Instead of buying greens that might spoil before you can use them, you can pick only what you need, reducing food waste and ensuring every bite is as fresh as possible. For summer gardeners, being able to harvest favourites like basil, dill, or juicy tomatoes year-round is a game changer. Les Verts makes it simple to keep vibrant flavours at your fingertips long after the outdoor growing season has ended.

Supporting local and community engagement

One of my favourite things about Les Verts is knowing exactly where your food comes from. With news of produce recalls and quality concerns, choosing local offers peace of mind. Most leafy greens in North America come from California, travelling long distances that impact their quality. By choosing Les Verts’ produce, you get fresher, cleaner greens while supporting a sustainable, local food system.

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Les Verts is also dedicated to helping schools and community groups — including those in indigenous and remote areas — secure grant funding for their systems across Canada. Their resources and community initiatives empower people with the tools and knowledge to grow their own food, fostering self-reliance and healthier lifestyles.

Where to find Les Verts Products

Les Verts is more than just a provider of delicious greens; it’s a symbol of innovation and community spirit, bringing a taste of sustainability to Winnipeg’s kitchens year-round. You can find their products and indoor garden systems at T&T Seeds (7724 Roblin Blvd) or explore their full range online at lesverts.com. To book an appointment to visit their showroom in Oak Bluff email hello@lesverts.com. Supporting Les Verts means more than just delicious produce — it’s about bringing a little extra freshness and care to your table. Why not try it and see the difference for yourself? You might just discover that homegrown quality makes all the difference.

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Recipe Of The Week

Bruschetta

The Best Bruschetta

This is our go-to appetizer year-round, and with Les Verts’ delicious basil, I can enjoy it with the freshest ingredients in any season. It makes our favourite dish even more special!

Ingredients

8 Roma tomatoes, diced
12 fresh Les Verts basil leaves, thinly sliced
8 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 baguette loaf, sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices
Plain goat cheese
Balsamic glaze

Instructions

Prepare the Garlic Oil: Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1-2 minutes, or until it just starts to turn golden (be careful not to brown it). Pour the garlic oil mixture into a large mixing bowl and let it cool.

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Prepare the Tomatoes: Core and dice the Roma tomatoes. Drain any excess juice by placing the diced tomatoes in a colander and then patting them dry with paper towels. Add the prepared tomatoes to the bowl with the cooled garlic oil.

Chiffonade the Basil: Stack the basil leaves on a cutting board, roll them into a tube, and thinly slice them into ribbons. Transfer the basil to the bowl.

Mix and Marinate: Add balsamic vinegar and salt to the tomato mixture. Gently stir to combine all the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavours meld.

Assemble and Serve: Lightly brush each baguette slice with extra-virgin olive oil and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Toast in the oven at 400°F for 5 minutes, then broil for 1–2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning. Once toasted, spread goat cheese on each slice, top with the bruschetta mixture, drizzle with balsamic glaze, and serve.

For detailed instructions for this week’s Recipes of the Week, open your phone’s camera, scan the QR code, and follow the link. You can also find all Recipe of the Week features and more must-try recipes at cookingwithcassandra.com.

Cassandra Morris Column QR Code

— Cassandra Morris, food blogger and recipe developer at cookingwithcassandra.com, shares the best recipes, essential kitchen tips and spotlights locally owned restaurants and specialty food must-tries.

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