IRVINGTON, NY - BrightFarms, a national leader in the indoor farming industry, announced the opening of its first greenhouse in Texas, bringing its fresh, locally grown leafy greens to the South Central and Southwest for the first time. Building on the recent unveiling of its Illinois greenhouse, the Lorena, Texas, site is the second of three regional hubs BrightFarms is opening in 2024, marking an ambitious and rapid expansion.
“Texans deserve the freshest, highest-quality produce, and we’re thrilled to deliver just that,” said Steve Platt, Chief Executive Officer of BrightFarms. “With our greenhouse expertise and cutting-edge technology, we’re bringing year-round access to fresh greens to the Lone Star State. As proud members of the GO TEXAN Program, we’re committed to not only providing top-tier produce but also supporting the growth of Texas agriculture."
The Lorena greenhouse, which will cover 1.5 million square feet upon completion, is designed with cutting-edge cooling technology such as KUBO’s Ultra-Clima system, enabling BrightFarms to create and sustain optimal growing conditions year-round, regardless of the Texas heat or external climate conditions. The new facility will create over 250 job opportunities for Lorena and the surrounding Texas triangle area, offering competitive benefits available from the very first day of employment, a press release noted.
Cox Enterprises is a family-owned company dedicated to empowering people to build a better future for the next generation. In service to that mission, it became the majority investor in BrightFarms in October 2020 and fully acquired the company in August 2021. Cox Farms, Cox Enterprises' venture into controlled environment agriculture, became North America’s largest greenhouse operator in November 2024, surpassing 700 acres across its brands, BrightFarms and Mucci Farms.
“Cox Farms is building a leading indoor farming company in North America, and BrightFarms, one of our brands, reflects that commitment,” said Steve Bradley, President of Cox Farms. “With the opening of our new greenhouse in Texas, we are taking another significant step toward securing a sustainable food supply. This milestone reinforces Cox’s investment of over $2 billion in sustainable businesses and technologies, ensuring healthy, responsibly grown produce for generations to come.”
With an ability to expand to nearly 100 acres, BrightFarms' new greenhouses in Texas, Illinois, and Georgia will enable the company to reach over two-thirds of the U.S. population, solidifying its position as a national leader in growing indoor-grown salads.
Stay tuned as we cover more industry expansions.
