IRVINGTON, NY - Growers are constantly harnessing innovation to spearhead monumental expansions, and BrightFarms is no different, as the greenhouse grower has recently announced the opening of its newest indoor farm in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
“With 10 years of innovation and growing under our belts, we are ready and able to bring our proven indoor growing model and fresh greens to millions of new consumers in the Carolinas and beyond,” said Steve Platt, CEO. “We are committed to being the leading supplier of local salads in the Southeast and look forward to partnering with retailers to make fresh, clean and safe produce a reality."
Doubling down on BrightFarms’ mission to make higher quality, safe produce available to more people across the country, the new six-acre greenhouse will produce 2 million pounds of lettuce per year for the Southeast region, which is enough to feed millions of new consumers, a press release explained.
The new facility is centrally located to allow quick delivery to retailers across the Southeast, including those in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. With this prime location, BrightFarms’ freshly harvested greens have to travel a much shorter distance than lettuce grown conventionally on the West Coast, as it arrives at supermarkets in as little as 24 hours.
The new state-of-the-art North Carolina greenhouse will employ more than 55 “green-collar” staff, all trained to operate the cutting-edge greenhouse technology within the facility, and is just the first step in the supplier’s robust expansion plans.
In addition to this facility, BrightFarms currently operates greenhouses in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Virgina, and has revealed plans to open another in New England later this year. As it enacts this ambitious expansion, the grower has its sights set on doubling in size and production and expanding its footprint to over 3,500 retail stores in the U.S. in 2021.
If you want to tune in for the opening celebration, which will provide viewers with an exclusive look at the new, high-tech facility as well as several esteemed keynote speakers, click here to register.
And, as always, keep reading ANUK as we report on all the latest expansions and innovations within the fresh produce industry.
