BrightFarms, a national leader in the indoor farming industry, has announced the opening of its new greenhouse hub in Yorkville, Illinois. This is the first of three new regional greenhouses opening for BrightFarms in 2024, tripling the company’s capacity to provide fresh, locally-grown leafy greens to consumers across the Eastern and Central U.S.
“Our expansion marks a pivotal moment for us after more than a decade of growth, and is the first step toward creating a coast-to-coast indoor supply chain that transforms how consumers access fresh salad greens,” said Steve Platt, CEO of BrightFarms. “With the addition of our three new 8-acre hubs in Illinois, Texas, and Georgia, we’re increasing our growing capability to 150 million pounds of leafy greens annually, and we’re excited to shape a healthier, greener future for generations to come.”
BrightFarms’ state-of-the-art production facilities incorporate advanced greenhouse technology, including KUBO’s Ultra-Clima greenhouse technology, allowing for optimal climate control 365 days a year, regardless of external weather conditions. This innovation ensures a consistent supply of fresh, pesticide-free leafy greens for the Chicagoland community, available year-round at retailers like Jewel-Osco, Mariano’s, and Pick N Save.
“We are thrilled to welcome BrightFarms to our community, providing fresh, local, and pesticide-free leafy greens to the Chicagoland area year-round,” said Mayor of Yorkville, John Purcell. “No matter if it’s the heat of summer or the chill of a Chicago winter, it’s incredible to know that our lettuce is grown right here in Yorkville, delivering farm-fresh quality directly to our tables.”
Cox Enterprises, BrightFarms’ majority investor, is committed to sustainability and has invested over $2 billion in eco-friendly businesses and technologies. Through Cox Farms, Cox’s venture into controlled environment agriculture, BrightFarms is revolutionizing access to greenhouse-grown leafy greens across the U.S. This ambitious expansion plan for 2024 aims to serve more than two-thirds of the U.S. population, generating over $300 million in revenue by 2026.
“Cox Farms is building the leading indoor farming company in North America, and BrightFarms is a cornerstone of that effort,” said Steve Bradley, President of Cox Farms. “With the growing consumer preference for fresher, more responsibly-grown produce, especially in the salad category, we are continuing to invest to meet the ever-increasing demand.”
Construction is underway for the additional greenhouse hubs in Macon, Georgia, and Lorena, Texas, with completion scheduled for the end of the year. Upon completion, these three new greenhouses will increase BrightFarms’ growing capacity by seven times, adding nearly 100 acres and solidifying its position as the number one grower of indoor-grown salad kits.
BrightFarms operates seven high-tech greenhouse farms across New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, and Illinois, with two additional regional salad greenhouse hubs to open in late 2024. Their fresh lettuce options, from classic greens to crunchy mixes and salad kits, are available in more than 5,000 retail stores across the Central and Eastern parts of the United States.
