Who's Who Women in Business

26 In food production, the smart entrepreneur seeks the greener pasture to grow a business. For Maria Deschauer and her team at the newly established Vermillion Growers, greener pastures have turned out to be "greener houses." Deschauer is president and managing director at Vermillion Growers, a high-tech vegetable production start-up that is setting down roots in Dauphin. The state-of-the-art greenhouse facility will start producing a variety of tomatoes this year, with a plan to create and phase in 150 full- and part-time new jobs and become a key player as a local, fresh food supplier to central Canada. The goal? Displace imported tomatoes, and later, other greenhouse-friendly vegetables, with locally sourced products. Currently, 90 per cent of tomatoes in Canada are imported, and the market is ripe for change. Deschauer, who grew up in Altona, has a highly successful background in property management and development — experience that has been invaluable in getting Vermillion Growers' 30-acre property secured and the first phase of building off the ground. "Working in property development brought me to Dauphin and to where I am right now with Vermillion Growers," she says. Her move to high-tech vegetable production was instigated by her brother, John (Lucky) Deschauer. "Lucky is the visionary. He approached me with the idea of a year-round vegetable growing facility in Dauphin right at a time when I was looking for the next business venture," she says. "The more I looked into the greenhouse industry, the more I loved the idea, and from a business-model perspective, it couldn't get much better than producing a consumable product." She says there is a large crossover in the skill set required by property management. "But the other part is completely different, which is why am so excited to get involved — I just turned 50 and I need a good challenge," she says. That zest for a second chapter after a successful first act comes from her early years and her grandmother's influence and inspiration. "My grandmother was a very strong woman and always encouraged my sister and me to be self-sufficient women," she says. "She would always say, 'You must be independent!' And of course working hard was just assumed." It was through her grandmother's example that Deschauer developed confidence and fearlessness. "I think she really set the stage for accomplishment — and of course my parents have always supported any entrepreneurial adventure," she says. CREATING A NEW VINE OF BUSINESS MARKET FOR LOCALLY GROWN TOMATOES IS RIPE FOR THE PICKING By Wendy King

• Cover