Founded in 1967 by Donald G. “Bud” Willmot and spanning 178 acres, Kinghaven was one of Canada’s most storied thoroughbred breeding and racing farms. Today, the farm is leading a different kind of race. Under the leadership of Bud’s grandson, Jay Willmot—who was named president in 2020, taking the reins from his father, David, former CEO of Woodbine Entertainment—Kinghaven has traded the track for agricultural tech, becoming home to Canada’s first fully automated leafy greens greenhouse.
Tariffs may be top of mind now, but the greenhouse wasn’t born out of a knee-jerk reaction. It has been in development since 2021. Willmot—who holds degrees in commerce (finance), environmental Studies (energy systems and global policy) and is a practicing lawyer, acting in-house for Haven Greens in addition to his CEO duties—didn’t have a crystal ball. However, he did have a long-term vision for sustainable, local food production.
Full Article: canadiangrocer.com