Something exciting is growing just north of Toronto. In King City, Ontario, Haven Greens is showing what is possible when Canadian agriculture meets the technology of tomorrow. Inside its state-of-the-art greenhouse, fresh leafy greens are grown year-round using artificial intelligence, automation, sensors and precision growing systems. It is a modern approach to agriculture with a distinctly local focus: producing fresh food close to the people who enjoy it.
A Family Farming Legacy Takes a New Direction
Haven Greens is the next chapter in a family agricultural story that began in 1967. That year, Donald G. “Bud” Willmot established Kinghaven Farms in King City as a thoroughbred breeding and racing operation. Over the decades, the family built a respected name in Canadian horse racing while continuing to explore new opportunities for the farm. Today, under the leadership of third-generation family member Jay Willmot, that legacy is evolving once again.
Inspired by an interest in agriculture, sustainability and food security—and frustrated by the lack of fresh, high-quality greens available in grocery stores—Jay envisioned a better way to grow leafy greens locally. This vision led to the launch of Haven Greens in 2024, a new venture built on the family farm’s agricultural roots and focused on year-round, greenhouse-grown produce. The first harvest followed in March 2025.
Bringing Fresh Greens Closer to Home
The result is more than a greenhouse. It is a glimpse of how Ontario can continue to grow fresh, high-quality food locally while using technology to make production more efficient, sustainable and reliable. Location is a key part of the story. Much of the lettuce consumed in Ontario travels thousands of kilometres before reaching grocery store shelves. Haven Greens, by contrast, grows fresh greens just north of Toronto, close to one of Canada’s largest consumer markets and helping contribute to a more local, year-round food supply.
Inside the greenhouse, artificial intelligence, automation, sensors and data work together to create precise growing conditions. Climate, irrigation and nutrients can be carefully monitored, while an innovative mobile gutter system moves plants through production and reduces the need for manual transplanting. Rather than replacing agricultural knowledge, technology gives growers greater precision and control.
Growing with Sustainability in Mind
Sustainability is also at the heart of the operation. Haven Greens uses a closed-loop water system that recirculates water and reports using up to 90% less water than field-grown crops. Nutrients are recirculated, while biological pest management helps eliminate the need for chemical pesticides. The company is also pursuing renewable energy opportunities, including a proposed 1.99-megawatt solar project.
The vision is ambitious, with a focus on producing clean, sustainable greens while making the most of energy and other resources. Jay Willmot, founder and CEO of Haven Greens, explains how the systems help the operation increase production and manage energy use: “We utilize a number of advanced, autonomous control systems to optimize our energy density and try to get, the most energetic bang for your buck in terms of how much, volume we’re putting off of these lines.”
Haven Greens is demonstrating how local food production can be both innovative and resource-conscious. By combining the family farm’s agricultural roots with AI, automation and more efficient growing systems, the operation is helping shape a new chapter for Ontario agriculture—and bringing fresh, locally grown greens closer to home.
Sources
- Haven Greens – Our Story: https://havengreens.ca/our-story/
- Kinghaven Farms Announces the Launch of Haven Greens: https://havengreens.ca/2025/04/04/kinghaven-farms-announces-the-launch-of-haven-greens/
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Support for innovative technologies at greenhouse in King City: https://www.canada.ca/en/agriculture-agri-food/news/2026/09/minister-macdonald-announces-support-toward-innovative-technologies-at-greenhouse-in-king-city.html
- Dalhousie University – Going green: Jay Willmot’s quest to change the lettuce market in Canada: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/management/news-events/news/2026/03/04/going_green.html
- CBC News – Machine lettuce: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/machine-lettuce-1.7528860
- CP24 – Ontario lettuce farm using AI to grow greens: https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2025/05/12/ontario-lettuce-farm-using-ai-to-grow-greens/