Little Leaf Farms
Locations: Six greenhouses in Devens, Massachusetts and McAdoo, Pennsylvania
Size: 40 acres total of greenhouse space
Products: Packaged baby leaf lettuce (multiple kinds) and salad kits available in 7,000 grocery stores throughout the Eastern U.S.
Production Methods: Greenhouse production, using captured rainwater, growing free of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, using hands-free technology from seed to harvesting, and using a peri-urban approach to locate greenhouses strategically in suburbs of major urban centers to reduce product travel time.
In their words: “While the CEA industry has faced challenges in previous years, Little Leaf Farms is profitable and continues to scale. In 2023, the brand opened its second site in McAdoo, Pennsylvania, and since then has opened three 10-acre greenhouses on the campus, with a fourth set to open in fall 2025.”
“Little Leaf Farms currently represents over 50% of packaged salad grown through CEA in the U.S. and is now reaching 66% more U.S. households compared to 2023, doubling its household penetration in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions in the same period. The brand also holds the highest household penetration of all CEA leafy greens brands in the U.S.”
Nature Fresh Farms
Locations: Three locations in Leamington, Ontario, Canada; Delta, Ohio and Laredo, Texas
Size: 240 acres of greenhouse space and 360,000 sq. ft. of distribution space
Products: A variety of cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers and strawberries sold in U.S. and Canadian retailers, wholesalers and food service
Production Methods: Use of cutting-edge production equipment from Holland, automated processing systems and a variety of sensors and software to monitor crop performance, soil nutrients, climate control systems and other crop inputs.
In their words: “Partnering with science and technology leaders, Dell and Intel, we’ve implemented data-driven farming and AI-powered systems that allow us to precisely monitor plant health using real-time information to make proactive decisions that bring better results.”
“Integrating multiple lighting trials with varying technologies and spectrums—sustainable solutions like these that help optimize yields, improve efficiency, and combat food waste–and quite possibly inspire a whole new field of studies. It’s amazing what happens when future intelligence meets age-old agricultural know-how.”
Wild About Sprouts
Locations: Sacramento, California (one of two locations total)
Size: 16,000 sq. ft.
Products: Broccoli, Alfalfa, Clover, Kale sprouts and mixes, sold at retail nationwide
Production Methods: The company developed a patented COLD-GROWN safety process designed to eliminate the risk of food-borne pathogens in sprouts. The process involves sprouts planted into patented growing containers and sealed. They are grown on in a controlled environment untouched by humans at reduced temperatures, both in growing and transport.
In their words: “Our patented grow process has been validated by multiple independent challenge studies conducted by independent labs, demonstrating the die-off of food-borne illness pathogens even when inoculated onto seeds prior to growth.”
“Additionally, our sprouts are non-GMO, herbicide and pesticide-free, and use 90% less water than traditionally grown sprouts. The result is a product that contains 50% more fiber and protein than traditionally grown sprouts, setting us apart as a leader in quality, sustainability, and innovation.”
