BrightFarms Greenhouse Brings Locally Grown, Long-Lasting Greens to Texans

Do you ever buy leafy greens from the grocery store just to open them the next day and see they’ve already wilted? Did you know that it’s because those same greens spend more time on a truck in transit to your grocery store than they do being kept fresh in your fridge?

We know that Texans are seeking better value from the products they buy. In fact, Texans expect and deserve better value. That means crisp, delicious salad greens that last in the fridge long enough to feed the family. BrightFarms, a pioneer in indoor farming, believes this should be the rule, not the exception.

More than 90% of leafy greens in the U.S. are grown on the West Coast, meaning that flavor and freshness are wasted on a long, cross-country road trip. BrightFarms’ mission is to change this with a better system centered around local produce and traceability.

Case in point: BrightFarms recently opened its first-ever greenhouse in the Lone Star State. At 1.5 million square feet upon completion, the Lorena facility will supply fresh salads year-round to Texans, all while innovating how farming is done. But there are more benefits to eating locally than you may realize. According to an article published by Michigan State University Extension Community Food Systems:

• Locally grown foods just taste better. The crops are picked at their peak ripeness instead of being harvested earlier to be shipped across the country.
• Local leafy greens have more nutritional value because the time between harvest and your table is drastically lessened. When the opposite is true, it’s more likely that nutrient value has decreased.
• Locally grown produce promotes a safe food supply, and that is simply because the more steps between you and your food’s source, the more opportunities there are for contamination.
• Buying locally supports the local economy, which couldn’t be more true for BrightFarms. The opening of its Lorena greenhouse is creating more than 250 jobs in the area, offering competitive pay and benefits from Day One. It’s also part of the GO TEXAN program, an initiative by the Texas Department of Agriculture that promotes Texas-based businesses and products.

Like many Texans, BrightFarms believes in "going big or going home," which is why the Lorena greenhouse is the second of three regional hubs BrightFarms is opening in 2024, showcasing its bold expansion plans to reach ⅔ of Americans with its leafy greens.

“We are transforming agriculture because we know there is a better way,” said BrightFarms CEO, Steve Platt. “It’s about more than just produce—we’re changing expectations of what agriculture can be in Texas with leafy greens that are pesticide free, grown locally for freshness, and creating a new generation of agriculture jobs in the state.”

The Lorena greenhouse is a marvel of modern agriculture, with advanced cooling technology that keeps crops thriving even in the Texas climate. Plus, its KUBO Ultra-Clima system ensures the perfect growing environment, regardless of the temperature outside. Translation? Fresh greens in the middle of a hot southern summer.

But that’s not all. By using hydroponic systems that dramatically reduce water usage per yield versus traditional agriculture and harnessing rainwater recycling, we’re proving that fresh produce doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense. With greenhouses strategically placed within hours not days not miles of major retailers, greens go from harvest to stores in as little as 24 hours. Already, BrightFarms greens are appearing on store shelves across the state, and the company promises more retail partnerships to come.

Irvington, New York-based BrightFarms isn’t stopping with Texas. It has an additional greenhouse hub slated to open in Georgia in the coming months and already operates seven other greenhouse farms in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, and Illinois.

BrightFarms was acquired by Cox Enterprises, a family-owned company, in August 2021. Cox itself has invested more than $2 billion in Clean Tech businesses, making its agriculture division, Cox Farms, the largest greenhouse operator in North America. With more than 700 acres under its brands, including BrightFarms and Mucci Farms, Cox is betting big on the future of indoor farming.

“Folks today want to eat healthier and make better choices for their families and their wallets. No one should have to cut corners on quality and flavor, especially for convenience,” said Jessica Soare, Senior Director of Marketing at BrightFarms. “We hope to relieve that mental and physical load for consumers. It’s why our leafy greens are pesticide-free and don’t require washing, and it’s why we are proud to grow right here in Texas, for Texans.”