Tag: leafy greens

Growing Change, One Building at a Time: A Q&A with Green Food Solutions Founder Mary Wetherill

Written by Indoor Ag-Content Q&A Feature on May 20, 2025. Posted in Blog.

From indoor farm amenities in apartment buildings to a franchise model designed for real-world profitability and impact, Mary Wetherill, CEO and Co-Founder of Green Food Solutions, is rethinking how food is grown. With a mission to empower a new local food system through partnerships, her team is helping entrepreneurs launch controlled environment farms that are practical, profitable, and deeply connected to their communities. Ahead of exhibiting at the upcoming CEA Summit East in Danville, Virginia, we caught up with Mary to learn more about the model behind Green Food Solutions—and why she believes this locally rooted, partnership-driven approach is the future of urban farming.

Your mission to empower a new local food system through partnerships is front and center in everything Green Food Solutions does. What does that look like in practice—and why do you think this kind of local, community-driven approach is the future of CEA?

At a high level, Empowering a New Local Food System™ through partnerships means taking the workable, practical and profitable Farming as a Service (FaaS™) business model we created in Jersey City and throughout NYC—and working with approved partner farmers and entrepreneurs to replicate it. We train, support, and help them launch Green Food Solutions Farm Amenity® and Garden Amenity® businesses in cities across the East Coast and beyond.

Our partners are trained into leaders and innovators of a successful modern urban farming approach in each area or multiple areas. Why we know the model we created is the future of CEA in cities, is simple. It’s practical, profitable and scalable.

All the renderings and visions of what urban farming in cities could look like—skyscrapers with cows on every floor, plants covering building exteriors—were unrealistic, often unsafe or inhumane, and not practical or profitable. Rooftop farms on buildings 10 stories or higher face challenges like intense wind exposure, which can pose serious liability issues for property owners. Meanwhile, a number of the large-scale, factory-style CEA farms that were once held up as success stories have shut down.

While many industrial CEA farms set out to create local food production with fewer food miles, greater access, sustainability, and resilience in our cities and communities, the reality often fell short. A closer look reveals that some vertical farms relied on traditional sales channels—like grocery stores—that required them to ship food thousands of miles just to reach their markets. As for food access, most of their products were sold at premium prices, making them inaccessible to those who could not afford it.

Regarding sustainability, CEA farms face hurdles from food miles to reliance on substrates like peat with environmental drawbacks. High energy consumption is another major concern. And while aiming for resilience, some large, factory size CEA farms are still subject to pathogens, supply chain disruptions and dependence on conventional agriculture for essentials like seeds. It is certainly not resilient in the way it was imagined.

We wanted to build a food system that adapts to the world today because we need a new food system now. So we created something practical that works in the built environment that exists. We also had it in our main goals to create a business that meets the vision, as imagined, of local food production, access, sustainability and resilience. At Green Food Solutions we completely avoided traditional sales channels and created new ones instead. We created a new model and food system entirely. This is why we know it is the future of CEA, especially in cities.

The idea of treating indoor farms as building amenities—like a pool or gym—is such a creative twist. What sparked that idea, and how are you seeing it change the way people interact with food in their communities?

We are farmers ourselves, and after farming in shipping containers in Brooklyn and selling the food to the local community we had to move our operation. We started renting a small section out of a 10,000-square-foot greenhouse to continue to grow for our customers alongside a failing commercial farm selling basil to Manhattan restaurants. We were also struggling to make ends meet as farmers selling the food we grew. The greenhouse was on top of an affordable housing building in the Bronx and I saw that none of the food they were growing went to the people who lived in the building.

That was it. I had the idea to put farms in every building where people lived. It hit everything we thought was important in a local food system: zero food miles, access and affordability. I set off and spoke to as many developers as we could. When we got our first break it was our flagship farm on the rooftop at the Denizen in Brooklyn NY. Seventy-nine hydroponic systems growing all sorts of varieties of crops from leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, strawberries and more. It was home to all our research. We sell the food, offer a CSA, and all the testing and research on what to grow.

We refined the model with customer input and what was valuable to them. It was a lot of work, but we created a profitable system that now is a win-win for cities, property owners and farmers together. As other developers saw what we did, they kept referring us to others because they saw how we were different from other attempts. We now have farms in buildings all over the city in community centers, senior centers, food pantries, homeless shelters, multiple luxury residential buildings, corporate offices, schools, wellness centers, libraries and even correctional facilities and residential treatment facilities.

All of our farms except for our first, is an indoor CEA farm serving freshly harvested food weekly to the people who live, work or play in that building. Our farmers have become the most popular members of the communities they grow for and we are reconnecting people with their food system once again. All the food is picked up after every harvest and many of the community members say it’s the highlight of their week when our farmers are on site. They love knowing their farmers and having a say about what we grow for them.

You’ve spoken candidly about the struggles many CEA businesses face, from startup costs to limited access. How does your franchise model flip the script and help more people launch successful, mission-driven farms?

I think how we flip the switch is simple. On a high level, our model is already proven and tested, while most CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) farms are still trying to figure out commercial viability and a working business model in real-time. Again, they’re often still using traditional sales channels and supply chains. We, on the other hand, don’t rely on those traditional channels or distribution.

Another game-changer is that, in our model, a farmer gets paid for their farming, not just the sale of the food. This makes a huge difference in the quality of life and bottom line of an urban farm business. Monetarily, starting a partnership with Green Food Solutions in your city or area has very low startup costs, especially compared to building a commercial farm. Factory CEA has astronomical startup and operational costs. Our model shows our partners how to cover not only their ROI in year one but also their operating costs.

Just like our food system, we’re transparent about our startup costs and the fast ROI our system can provide. Our low-end startup cost is $57,603.33, and that can be covered by just one Farm Amenity® sale. Our business is exactly that – a real business to not only grow food but also profits. Our training and business support help launch each new partnership into the same success we’ve created as we continue to grow together.

We’re even required by the Federal Trade Commission to share our numbers with potential partners. We’re proud of our success and are committed to supporting our partners on their path to success too. That’s another thing that really flips the switch: we work together. Most large CEA farms are proprietary and private; they often don’t even allow the community to enjoy the farms or be part of the local food they’re asked to buy. With Green Food Solutions, you’re an active member of your community.

Training and education are big parts of what you offer. For someone new to farming—or even just curious—what are the most important things they need to know before getting started?

The wonderful thing about this business opportunity is that all they need to do other than get 2 certifications — 1 in food safety and 1 in IPM management — is to be able to follow a system. Our partners receive a comprehensive operation manual detailing:

o Establishing your Business (EIN, Insurances, site selection, etc)

o Personnel (hiring processes, interviewing process, employment law, job descriptions, etc)

o Marketing your Business (local promotion, brand specs, public relations, marketing strategies, etc)

o Operating Procedures and SOPs (equipment and supply lists, vendors, processes and how to do everything step by step).

They also get leads generated from us, sales call support, marketing templates, proposal templates, grand opening support, social media management, technology support, PowerPoints and scripts for sales and engaging their community at the farm. We provide a complete system to follow for their success. And they have our dedicated support every step of the way as they grow the business.

You’re now growing a network of franchise partners around the country. What kinds of people are drawn to this work, and what impact are you seeing as they bring Green Food Solutions to their own communities?

We have a vetting system we use to validate our potential partners. We see a lot of people interested in the work we are doing. Some people who are looking to switch careers and be part of making a difference while building a business for their future.

What we look for first and foremost in a person is the passion to be part of a food system & brand that is centered around addressing the issues of access, affordability, sustainability and resilience in a real way. We look for a team player. We ask a series of questions that include evaluating the territory they are interested in starting a Green Food Solutions, as well as why they want to be part of a franchise as opposed to owning an independent business. How do they plan on running the business, do they want to hire or be the farmer themselves and how soon do they plan to begin operations?

These are only a scratch and sniff of the questions we ask and the deep dive we take together. We know we are in this for the long haul together, so we also look for good people we want to work with. Good people for a better food system now. That’s what we are looking for in a partner. All else can be trained. We offer discounts to our veterans, LGBTQ and Black owned business partners.

To learn more, visit the Green Food Solutions website.

You can also talk to the Green Food Solutions team at their tabletop exhibit at the upcoming CEA Summit East, September 9-10, 2025 in Danville, Virginia.

Dr. Greenhouse On CEA’s Evolution and What Comes Next

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on April 20, 2025. Posted in Blog.

From Hortidaily —

At the recent Indoor Ag-Con in Las Vegas, where Dr. Greenhouse recorded its 100th podcast episode, Dr. Nadia Sabeh noticed an important trend among growers and technology providers.

“The big takeaways I heard again and again were that people are optimistic about the future of CEA, and they’re realizing that CEA is farming, not just tech,” she says. “We’re getting back to the basics of how to grow crops with the tools we have.”

For Dr. Sabeh, this shift is personal as well as professional. “Just three years ago, 90% of our work was focused on indoor farms. Last year, 70% of our projects were greenhouses,” she says. “I am so glad that the ‘greenhouse’ in Dr. Greenhouse is alive again!”

The earlier excitement around vertical farms was driven by very specific needs. “For cannabis, vertical made sense for security. For leafy greens, it was about maximizing control,” she explains.

“But now, we’re seeing a return to general-purpose greenhouses, which is great.”

Read the full article from Hortidaily…

Will 2025 Be Déjà Vu All Over Again for the Indoor Farming Sector

Written by Adam Bergman, EcoTech Capital on February 14, 2025. Posted in Blog.

Growing food outdoors shows no sign of getting easier, given the volatility of the weather, and the situation is predicted only to get worse due to the impact of climate change. One would expect the indoor farming sector would be poised to benefit, as its advantages would seem to be obvious. However, although the indoor farming sector made progress with increasing production, expanding into new retailers, and growing market share with consumers, 2024 will go down as potentially the worst year for indoor farming companies, particularly vertical farms, as most struggled to achieve profitability at the product, farm and/or corporate level. After having raised almost $8 billion globally between 2018 – 2022, indoor farming companies have failed to raise even $1 billion since 2022, and the financing environment for 2025 doesn’t look much better.

Difficult Times for Vertical Farming Companies

Emblematic of the challenges in 2024 were the bankruptcy of vertical farming companies Bowery Farming and Smallhold, as well as Plenty’s decision to close its Compton, CA farm, which produced leafy greens. The growing number of bankruptcies and companies shuttering farms and total operations is leading many people to ask whether the vertical farming sector is viable. Although this is a fair question, since no vertical farming companies have achieved sustained profitability yet and many have struggled even to achieve positive unit economics, I argue it is too early to give up on this sector. Vertical farming companies did have some wins in 2024: 80 Acres announced $140 million worth of public bonds from Boone County, KY, to expand its facility near Florence, KY; Oishii announced a $150 million Series B financing to build a new strawberry farm; and Plenty opened its Richmond, VA strawberry facility, which will be the largest vertical farm producer of strawberries globally.

Greenhouse Companies Showing Mixed Results

2024 was a better year for the U.S. greenhouse industry: BrightFarms opened 3 new large farms in the U.S. and its parent company, Cox Farms became the largest U.S. greenhouse operator, as it surpassed over 700 acres; Gotham Greens’ annual production capacity reached ~100 million heads of lettuce per year and its products are available at retail locations across all 50 states; and having completed an expansion to its McAdoo, PA facility, Little Leaf Farms claims to be the largest indoor producer of lettuce in the U.S. However, it was not all positive, as Revol Greens reduced or closed facilities due to a more competitive economic environment, and it is not long since the 2023 bankruptcy of AppHarvest.

Furthermore, the greenhouse industry struggles with many of the same challenges faced by vertical farms, as few companies are profitable, and increased production is already leading to a price war in some regions that will make it even more difficult for companies to achieve profitability. Also, greenhouse providers have started closing older farms that were proving uneconomical.

Outdoor Farming Challenges Create Opportunities

There are many reasons for concern about the viability of indoor farming, but I remain optimistic that in the mid- to long-term, the positive factors outweigh the negative. The indoor farming sector is at a major disadvantage compared to the outdoor growers, due to its small scale and higher-cost capital expenditure on buildings and HVAC systems, as well as needing more electricity for heating and cooling. However, the traditional produce sector also is facing major headwinds.

Every year concerns increase about growing outdoors, including: destructive weather events, water availability, increasing resistance of pests and weeds to traditional crop chemicals, and soil degradation, as well as labor availability, costs, and turnover, which all put surety of supply at risk, and could spell catastrophe. Shifting consumer preferences to organic and more sustainably grown produce is a trend that seems to be gaining momentum, as more consumers learn about all the crop chemicals (fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides) applied to crops grown outdoors, and the impact on their health.

Additionally, there is now the real risk that the U.S. could enter a long and protracted trade war with Canada, Mexico and other major suppliers of produce to the U.S., as a result of tariffs implemented on goods being imported into the U.S. It is not out of the realm of possibilities that even if the U.S. and Mexico don’t enter a trade war, the Trump administration could look to decrease the amount of produce imported into the U.S., under its America First policies. As it is unlikely that U.S. outdoor produce growers could make up for lost imported products, seeing there has be a growing trend of offshoring, particularly for produce that California is known for, it would create an opportunity for the indoor farming sector.

Security of Supply

Consequently, surety of supply is becoming a focus for retailers and a topic that continues to offer one of the biggest hopes for the indoor farming sector. Although today there is not a significant issue with U.S. produce availability, we have witnessed produce supply challenges in other countries, including the U.K., where some grocery retailers rationed how much produce consumers could buy. The U.S. is not immune from food rationing and product scarcity, as we currently are seeing this situation play out with eggs and a couple of years ago there were similar issues with baby formula. It doesn’t take many disruptions in the supply chain to impact food security, especially when a growing percentage of the products need to be imported.

Whereas surety of supply is still a longer-term concern for U.S. retailers, it is already an issue for Canada, which imports over 90% of its leafy greens from the U.S., most traveling thousands of miles from California and Arizona. Canada is taking a more aggressive posture toward food security, especially with a looming trade war with the U.S., where grocery retailers are in active discussion with indoor farming companies, and local and federal governments are providing economic support for the indoor farming sector, evident by Farm Credit Canada’s recent investment in GoodLeaf Farms. In fact, government support, whether coming from the federal, state/provincial, or local level, is increasing, as indoor farming is seen as a means of job creation in local communities, as well as hedge against food insecurity.

Make America Healthy Again

The confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, expected in the near future, could provide the indoor farming sector with a boost. Average life expectancy in the U.S. has plateaued and U.S. healthcare spending reached over $3 trillion in 2023, underlying the urgency to focus on the types and quality of food we consume. Today, there is a health crisis in the U.S. due to obesity, which needs to be addressed. 40% of all adult Americans are obese (30-40 BMI), and 9% are severely obese (40+ BMI), according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which equates to almost 125 million Americans. Consequently, it will be interesting to see what policies are implemented by RFK, Jr., who has strongly advocated for his idea to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) by reducing processed foods and eliminating added fats, starches, and sugars, as well as food dyes and additives banned in other countries, and pushing for increased consumption of healthier, more nutrient dense foods.

Furthermore, RFK, Jr. has also called for the reduction or elimination of crops chemicals used to grow agricultural products, especially specialty produce, which is typically eaten raw, rather than being processed. There is a growing movement among U.S. states, including California, Maryland, Oregon and Washington, to pass legislation banning the use of certain crop chemicals. It is likely that these and other states will continue pushing forward with banning more crop chemicals this year. As the biologicals already on the market, the current replacement for crop chemicals, are less effective, there likely will be a yield reduction necessitating the need for additional production locations to meet consumer demand.

New Product Offerings

Although indoor farming companies initially focused production on cannabis, cucumbers, leafy greens, and tomatoes, now, thanks to technology innovation in automation & robotics, HVAC systems, LEDs, and seed genetics, the sector is beginning to expand into a broader product portfolio of higher-margin crops, including berries, coffee, microgreens, forestry products, specialty ingredients and pharmaceuticals. Product diversification, especially for vertical farms, is key, as this ability to fully control the climate provides a huge advantage in a world where weather volatility significantly hampers outdoor growers.

Despite my optimism for the future of this sector, I expect 2025 to bring further bankruptcies and farm closures, especially for companies unable to achieve positive cash flow and profitability that are running out of funding, since the equity capital markets are likely to be closed for unprofitable companies. The year ahead brings tremendous uncertainty for the indoor farming sector, as there are a variety of external factors that could either increase demand or create further problems. Those indoor farming companies that do survive in the short term will find themselves well positioned to benefit from the challenges facing outdoor produce growers, both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, the sector should benefit from the three mega-trends of food security, sustainability, and health & nutrition, as well as demands from consumers looking for fresher, healthier, more nutritious foods, which is a hallmark of the indoor farming sector.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Adam Bergman is a Managing Director at EcoTech Capital where he works at the intersection of technology innovation and climate change. Adam is a sustainability executive leader with over 25 years’ investment banking experience raising capital and executing M&A transactions. He also provides strategic advice and financial guidance to senior executives and boards on partnerships and growth strategies. As one of the first investment bankers to focus exclusively on the CleanTech sector, starting in 2005, Adam is recognized as a leading subject matter expert and is a frequent speaker at industry events and publisher of articles on sustainability.

Adam has built industry leading AgTech investment banking practices at Citi and Wells Fargo by creating a broad ecosystem to help drive adoption of technology and innovation throughout the food & ag value chain. Adam established the AgTech cohort for Wells Fargo’s innovation incubator (IN2), which was launched at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2018. He is a technology advisor to Western Growers Association, which represents local and regional family farmers who grow over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts. Adam also is a technology advisor for farmer-owned Landus Cooperative, headquartered in Ames, Iowa and SeaAhead, a bluetech startup platform in Boston, Massachusetts, whose mission is to support new, innovative ventures, with a focus on sustainability and the oceans.

BrightFarms Opens Its First Greenhouse In Texas

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on December 14, 2024. Posted in Blog.

From Produce Reporter:

BrightFarms, a national leader in the indoor farming industry, today announced the opening of its first greenhouse in Texas. This brings 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, CEO 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.

Read full story from The Produce Reporter…

Swegreen Starts Building Sweden’s Largest In-Store Farm

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on October 14, 2024. Posted in Blog.

From iGrow News

Launch of Sweden’s Largest In-Store Farm With Swegreen

Construction has officially begun on Sweden’s largest in-store farm at ICA Maxi Ängelholm. Powered by Swegreen’s Freja platform, this innovative farm will allow the store to produce over 160,000 leafy greens and herbs annually. By growing crops directly inside the store, ICA Maxi aims to offer customers a steady, hyper-local supply of sustainable produce without the typical price fluctuations.

Freja Platform: A New Standard for Sustainable Farming

Swegreen’s Freja platform is the most advanced in-store farming solution available globally, using vertical farming and AI technology to grow crops with minimal environmental impact. In a space of just 45 to 60 square meters, the Freja platform can produce up to 450 crops per day, including lettuce, leafy greens, and herbs. With no transportation required, carbon emissions are significantly reduced.

Pierre Mohlin, CEO of Swegreen, commented, “The Freja platform at ICA Maxi Ängelholm will not only be the largest in-store farm in Sweden, but it also sets a new global standard for sustainable, hyper-local food production.”

Read full story from iGrow News…

Campo Caribe: Transforming Tropical Farming With High-Tech Innovation

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on May 21, 2024. Posted in Blog.

Jonah Helmer Head Shot — Campo Caribe Head Grower Jonah Helmer

Located in the mountains of Barranquitas, Campo Caribe is officially on its way to providing fresh produce to Puerto Rican families, creating new jobs and reducing the island’s dependence on imports. Following last week’s press conference where Puerto Rico’s Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi announced the expansion of the agricultural project’s state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse operation — the largest in the Caribbean – Indoor Ag-Con spoke with Campo Caribe’s Head Grower Jonah Helmer. Read on as he shares the cutting-edge technologies and innovative strategies the team is implementing to overcome tropical weather challenges, optimize growing conditions, and sustainably produce fresh, high-quality lettuce year-round.

Can you share how Campo Caribe will be leveraging its unique location in the central mountains of Puerto Rico to optimize growing conditions and mitigate the challenges posed by the tropical island environment, such as hurricanes and extreme weather fluctuations?

With our location in the central mountains of Puerto Rico, Campo Caribe has climatic advantages, including high levels of sunlight and mostly moderate temperatures due to the higher elevation. However, there are some additional issues we face in our tropical island location, such as risk of hurricanes, periods of excessive sunlight, frequent rain events, periods of low humidity and of excessive humidity, and periods of extreme air and irrigation water temperatures.

To control these variables, Campo Caribe is building one of the most technologically advanced and sustainable lettuce greenhouses in the Caribbean. At 5.5 acres, this is the largest hydroponic greenhouse in the Caribbean and the largest of only 3 greenhouses in the world combining the Cravo retractable roof structure and Hydronov deep water culture growing system. The Cravo retractable roof and shading system allows us to passively cool our greenhouse throughout the day. We can open the roof to maximize our light levels during cloudy periods and close the roof and shade system to reduce peak light intensity. We grow our lettuce in deep water culture, which uses a greater water volume to buffer fluctuations in water and air temperature around the plant. We added a Vifra high pressure fogging system to maintain optimal humidity levels for our plants to help them transpire, photosynthesize, and maximize growth all day long without becoming water stressed under the strong tropical sun.

Campo Caribe Research Greenhouse — Prior to completion of its commercial greenhouse, Campo Caribe built research and development greenhouses.

Our unique combination of location, facility design, growing equipment, and controls systems allows us to overcome these issues and puts us on the cutting edge of the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry. This makes our facility more productive, energy efficient, and sustainable than those of our competitors, and makes our products tastier and healthier for our customers. Our greenhouse is built to withstand hurricane force winds up to 165 mph and will allow us to achieve a higher order fulfillment rate for Puerto Rican businesses.

The integration of the Cravo retractable roof structure and Hydronov deep water culture growing system are distinguishing features of Campo Caribe. Can you explain how this combination enhances plant growth and resource efficiency compared to traditional greenhouse setups?

Cravo Retractable Roof Campo Caribe — Cravo retractable roof

Conventional glass and plastic greenhouses are not designed to operate in tropical climates with high temperatures and humidities all year round. The Cravo greenhouse allows us to optimize the aerial environment around the leaves of the plants in our hot climate while the Hydronov deep water culture system provides deep, cool, and oxygenated reservoirs of recirculating nutrient solution that will support plant growth even with severe fluctuations in temperatures and interruptions in power supply that can occur in Puerto Rico.

The roof and sides of the Cravo greenhouse fully retract allowing us to combine the benefits of outdoor and CEA production systems to enhance plant growth. By maximizing natural sunlight and controlling the environment, Campo Caribe is able to exceed the average yields of lettuce grown in deep water culture without the use of any artificial lighting and with lower chemical inputs.

The retractable roof prevents the excess heat buildup that occurs in conventional greenhouses and ensures that we have uniform growing conditions throughout the 5.5 acre structure. Retractable cooling curtains help regulate the sunlight and air temperatures, while our high-pressure fogging system and horizontal airflow fans optimize the humidity levels around the leaf surface.

Campo Caribe uses minimal electricity since the retractable roofs and cooling curtains consume only 2-3 kw hours of electricity per day per hectare compared to over 1000 kw hours for conventional greenhouses cooled with cooling pads and fans. We are not using any supplemental lighting to grow our lettuce, which saves a significant amount of energy and expense compared to greenhouses in higher latitudes.

Tropical climates provide favorable conditions for foliar and root diseases due to consistently warm temperatures and high humidity and precipitation levels. Hydronov designed our growing system to reduce risk of crop loss from disease and improve productivity. Our growing system features 16 independent production ponds, each fed with ozone sterilized source water to prevent the introduction of water-borne pests and diseases into the ponds. We have precise control systems for the water temperature and oxygen concentration of our growing solution to further reduce disease risk and improve plant health to make our product top in quality and in safety.

The use of rainwater collection and high-pressure fogging systems reflects a commitment to resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. Could you elaborate on how these systems contribute to Campo Caribe’s overall sustainability goals and operational efficiency?

Campo Caribe Packaging — Campo Caribe’s lettuce will come in butterhead, romaine and spring mix varieties, and will be available in supermarkets and restaurants around the island, as well as at a direct sales stand at the farm’s facilities in Barranquitas.

Campo Caribe designed our production systems to improve the sustainability and reliability of produce available in Puerto Rico. By replacing imports with locally grown produce, Campo Caribe will help decrease Puerto Rico’s dependency on imported food, which currently stands at approximately 85%. The majority of lettuce available in Puerto Rico is grown in California or Arizona and shipped by truck and by boat to the island. It is not uncommon for some of this produce to go bad during this long journey and be wasted before it gets to consumers, contributing to higher carbon emissions.

To conserve resources, Campo Caribe utilizes collected rainwater from the roof of the greenhouse as the primary water source for the facility and saves 90% more water than conventional outdoor lettuce farms. By collecting and using our rainwater, Campo Caribe can support its production with less reliance on municipal or well water. This helps us to produce a reliable supply of lettuce for our customers all year round.

General Manager, Zuleyka Mendoza, and Farm Supervisor, Andrea Baez, in Research Greenhouse — Campo Caribe General Manager, Zuleyka Mendoza, and Farm Supervisor, Andrea Baez, in research greenhouse

The Cravo retractable roof structure significantly reduces the amount of energy used to vent and cool the greenhouse, but high solar radiation levels can cause severe spikes in air temperature and drops in humidity levels. To prevent our plants from getting water stressed, we have installed a Vifra high pressure fogging system to maintain optimal humidity levels and cool down peak air temperatures. Vifra’s high pressure fogging system produces water droplets 1 micron in size that evaporate immediately in the air, increasing humidity without wetting the leaf surface, which reduces risk of foliar disease.

The high pressure fogging system will work in combination with the retractable cooling curtains to reduce peak temperatures making our greenhouse more resistant to extreme temperatures caused by climate change. By maintaining optimal humidity levels during hot summer days, our crop will not become water stressed and instead can take full advantage of the sun’s energy to grow faster and yield more. The high pressure fogging system will only be required for several hours per day when the humidity levels drop below 60% which will reduce the amount of fresh water for cooling by over 95% compared to conventional pad and fan cooled greenhouses.

The Priva Control System will play a key role in maintaining optimal growing conditions. Can you discuss how this system improves operational efficiency and ensures consistent yields – particularly in a high-tech greenhouse environment like Campo Caribe?

Campo Caribe Commercial Greenhouse Pond Recirculation Corridor — Campo Caribe greenhouse pond recirculation corridor

Campo Caribe selected a Priva climate control system to monitor and control all climate variables and control the irrigation system in our greenhouse. Priva (based in De Lier, Holland) is a global leader in CEA control systems, developing software, hardware, and services for the horticulture industry worldwide. We collaborated with Priva partner, Borlaug, in designing, developing, manufacturing, shipping, installing, and commissioning our climate control system. Priva integrates with the Cravo greenhouse and production equipment so we can monitor and control the climate conditions in our greenhouse from anywhere with an internet connection via their online platform. We can monitor and control the air temperature, humidity level, light level, CO2 concentration, wind speed, and leaf temperature in the greenhouse. For each independent recirculating pond we can precisely add pH and nutrient adjusted solutions using a Priva Nutrifit system and monitor the pH, EC, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) in real time.

The Priva system notifies growing staff if climate variables are out of range so actions can be taken to resolve problems quickly and to return to optimal conditions. This high level of control and monitoring allows Campo Caribe to optimize the growing conditions at all times to produce high quality lettuce all year round, empowering the farm to hit 95% fulfillment for our customers.

Energy efficiency is a significant focus for Campo Caribe, as demonstrated by your energy management system and facility design. How do these systems contribute to reducing overall energy consumption while still meeting the demands of a large-scale lettuce operation – and what are the expected benefits in terms of cost savings and environmental impact?

Campo Caribe Team with Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi at press conference

To reduce our daily electrical usage, Campo Caribe is utilizing a Deep Sea Electronics generator controller to perform advanced electrical dispatching and integrate with Priva and the major loads of the facility. An easily programable load shed system turns off major electrical loads in the facility to save energy and to prevent overloading our electrical service and back-up generator. We prioritize the dispatching of power to equipment needed to maintain an optimal production climate for our plants including operations of the greenhouse roof and shade curtains, fogging system, and water recirculation pumps. We will only run some equipment at night, such as the Priva Nutrifit, to fill up the production ponds in order to reduce power consumption during the day when we are harvesting and packaging.

Other parts of our operation including the refrigerated warehouse were designed to maximize energy efficiency. Excess insulation in the warehouse and packing room coupled with fast acting roll-up doors will maintain cold food safe temperatures using less energy from the cycling of condensing units.

In case of electrical outages, we have a back-up generator that can support the entire facility. We are continuing our research to determine when our peak power demand occurs, and we are working with Ageto Energy to provide for a variety of power sources in the future. Ageto Energy’s ARC system will ultimately act as the single interface for the disparate energy resources and will optimize to provide the cheapest, cleanest, and most reliable power.

This unique power system and facility design allows us to be more reliable in the face of power outages and storms and provide a more sustainable product with less carbon emissions for our customers.

Learn more about Campo Caribe and keep up with its progress here — www.campocaribe.com

Press Conference With Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi

Puerto Rico Governor and General Manager in Research Greenhouse — Puerto Rico Governor and General Manager in Campo Caribe Research Greenhouse

Campo Caribe hosted a press conference on Monday, May 13 where Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi and other officials participated in the announcement of the company’s expansion plans. Check out some of the press coverage from outlets, including:

Sin Comillas.com, Ey Boricua, WIPR, WAPA

Vonnie Estes CEA Story for Indoor Ag Content

How indoor farms can strengthen the fresh produce supply of outdoor growers

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on May 20, 2024. Posted in Blog.

From Vertical Farm Daily:

“There’s a bigger chance of crop failure for outdoor growers not to deliver, because of weather. We should continue to balance it out with CEA produce. However, as a retailer, if you only want to sell indoor produce, there aren’t dozens of suppliers to buy from,” says Vonnie Estes, Vice President of Innovation, International Fresh Produce Association.

Having worked in fresh produce for decades, Vonnie is keeping busy with technology in agriculture that’s used throughout the entire supply chain. Currently, she devotes most of her time to climate change and labor shortages, trying to find an answer on how to mitigate and respond to these shifts. Reflecting on a rocky couple of years within the CEA industry, Vonnie reassures that indoor growers will be able to lock in contracts with retail, “Especially if you’re a producer with a strong track record.” However, as a new farm that might be a bit harder, especially when making big promises that cannot be lived up to. New farms will have to show a pathway to profitability and proof that they can stay in business to deliver quality products on contracts.

“When there’s a shortage due to weather events in open-field production, the trading desks come in trying to fill up the gaps which happens all the time in outdoor-grown. They have built a bigger infrastructure and more growers to pull from over time. Most indoor growers are selling directly to retailers so for the most part do not go through trading desks. As we have more indoor growers and larger supply, indoor will also be able to fill these gaps,” Vonnie elaborates.

Read the full story from Vertical Farm Daily here…

DryGair Is Saving Energy and Improving Yields Across N. American Horticulture

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on February 10, 2024. Posted in Blog, Exhibitor News.

Dehumidification system manufacturer, DryGair (Indoor Ag-Con Booth 207), has been at the forefront of the horticulture humidity control market since its inception in 2010. The company has recently established its N. America branch, in order to better serve the U.S. and Canadian markets, as the system is becoming more and more popular, in a wider variety of crops.

Director of the N. America branch, Douglas Miller, mentions DryGair’s success in Europe, most notably in the Netherlands.

“Growers in Europe have been using DryGair for a long time, in a variety of different crops and facilities. It’s become a staple, especially in flowers and other ornamental plants, as well as herbs, leafy greens, and many types of vegetable and vine crops.”

Growers Use DryGair for a Variety of Benefits

The patented dehumidification system was developed at the Volcani Agricultural Research Center, as one of the first solutions for active humidity reduction in horticultural environments. Advanced greenhouses were quick to adopt the technology, as it was shown to not only prevent diseases and improve yields, but also save a significant amount of energy.

“When people think of dehumidification, they think of mold prevention”, Miller says. “But it’s much more than that. Maintaining an ideal relative humidity range, coupled with a uniform climate (thanks to DryGair’s patented air circulation mechanism), has a major impact on the crop. It creates an active climate that stimulates growth and improves quality.”

“The system also saves a lot of energy. By making ventilation unnecessary, you can retain heat inside, which significantly reduces heating requirements. We’ve seen an average of 50% savings, compared to traditional humidity control methods, in trials and customer experiences.”

DryGair’s Success in the Cannabis Sector

In contrast to the European markets, in the U.S. and Canada, DryGair was mostly popularized in cannabis production.

“We’ve had a lot of success in commercial and medical cannabis production in the U.S. and Canada. Cannabis growers were early adopters, quickly realizing that effective humidity control can make or break entire grow cycles” Miller mentions.

“Of course, when it comes to cannabis, humidity control is extremely important, as it’s the main tool for mold prevention. It’s necessary in all stages of cultivation and is actually a GMP requirement for medicinal cannabis production.”

Popularizing Dehumidification in Vegetable and Flower Cultivation

“However, more and more ‘traditional’ growers have been taking note.” Miller adds. “Vegetable, flower, and potted plant growers are realizing the benefits their counterparts across the world are reaping.”

Once growers understand that this tool can both improve yields and reduce costs, it’s an easy decision,” he adds.

DryGair will be presenting their humidity control solution at the upcoming Indoor Ag-Con. Visit the company at booth #207 to discuss effective humidity control and energy savings possibilities for your facility.

Jiffy to Showcase Sustainable, Automation-Ready Solutions at Indoor Ag-Con 2024 | Booth 1012

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on February 10, 2024. Posted in Blog, Exhibitor News.

Jiffy Group looks forward to exhibiting at Indoor Ag-Con March 11-12, 2024, at Caesars Forum Conference Center in Las Vegas.

At Jiffy, we recognize that Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) growers are constantly weighing multiple factors when selecting substrate for various hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic systems.

We have worked alongside many CEA growers to help increase cost savings on inputs and reduce costs on labor by offering solutions that are both environmentally sound and easily compatible with automated systems.

Visit us at Indoor Ag-Con Booth #1012 to see our many innovative solutions and allow us to demonstrate how we can help you achieve more efficient and sustainable growing operations.

Streamlining CEA solutions

The high technology, sustainable and certified solution you are looking for to improve yield and maximize your production with more convenience.

Jiffy’s cost-effective solutions provide the key benefits of helping you attain high germination and yields in a variety of CEA production systems.

Jiffy Pellets and Jiffy Preforma, for example, are cost-effective growing media solutions that are well-suited for leafy greens and herb growers who utilize nutrient film technique (NFT) and deep water culture hydroponic systems.

• Pellets include growing media—either peat, RHP-certified coconut coir, or a mix—in an open wall, and a biodegradable, compostable PLA net. You can purchase pellets in various sizes. Jiffy-7 pellets are shipped dry to save space in storage and maximize freight cost. They then expand upon watering ready for seeding and germination.

• With Preforma, growers can select between multiple peat and coir substrate mixes and tray and dibble sizes. Jiffy designs and formulates Preforma plugs as a ready-to-use growing solution using a substrate binder. This helps the plugs retain optimal physical properties throughout various automated processes such as transplanting.

For growers producing vine crops or strawberries in gutter-based systems with drip irrigation, we recommend our Growbags (including EasyFill Growbags) or loose fill mixes.

Jiffy also offers other products to help with your needs, such as Jiffy Growblocks, which are a great combination with Growbags. Jiffy Pots are the preferred choice for growers with hydroponics systems because they offer several key benefits, not only related to crop quality and quantity but also contribute to the sustainability and profitability of operations.

As you work with us to fulfill your substrate needs, you will also benefit from our global supply chain and sales force, advanced handling of raw materials, and certifications ensuring success at every step.

Adhering to the highest standards

At Jiffy, we prioritize the safety, sustainability, and quality of our products and processes.

Our production facilities are certified with various ISO certification standards: ISO 22000 for food safety, ISO 14001 for sustainability, and ISO 9001 for quality. All our operations are also compliant with California’s Proposition 65. These certifications ensure that the media provided is of the highest quality produced to specifications that allow for optimal results.

For some products and production locations, Jiffy has obtained the quality mark from RHP, the nonprofit European knowledge center for growing media, certifying that raw materials and products meet strict quality and sustainability standards. We also offer a range of OMRI listed organic, 0% plastic, and peat-free solutions helping you to achieve your sustainability goals.

Let’s work together

Opportunities abound for the CEA industry to feed an expanding global population, and Jiffy is glad to assist growers by offering them many customized solutions.

As we further our commitment to the industry, we will be opening a new Preforma factory on the West Coast of the United States in Fall 2024.

We look forward to working with you to make sure your operation is a continued success. Come visit us at Indoor Ag-Con Booth #1012, and let’s grow together.

Little Leaf Farms CEO: Navigating Sustainable Growth and Fresh Innovations

Written by Indoor Ag-Con on December 13, 2023. Posted in Blog.

Join us for this month’s Q&A with Paul Sellew, the forward-thinking Founder & CEO of Little Leaf Farms, the largest U.S. greenhouse producer of hydroponic baby greens. As the opening morning keynote speaker for the March 11-12, 2024 edition of Indoor Ag-Con, Paul sheds light on the challenges and opportunities of expanding Little Leaf Farms’ footprint, the eco-friendly practices that set it apart, and the company’s commitment to a farmer-first mindset. From becoming the top-selling lettuce in New England to doubling production capacity with the recent expansion into McAdoo, PA, Sellew gives a glimpse into the company’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and its exciting plans for the future.

Given Little Leaf Farms’ recent milestone of becoming the #1 best-selling packaged lettuce in New England and the opening of a new greenhouse in McAdoo, PA, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee in expanding your footprint to new regions – and how does this contribute to your goal of reaching 100 acres under glass by 2026?

When we opened our first greenhouse, we set out to build a more resilient food system and have pioneered a peri-urban approach in controlled environment agriculture. This means that our greenhouses are built in the surrounding regions of major urban centers to minimize the amount our leafy greens have to travel to reach the consumer, resulting in a lettuce that lasts longer and tastes better. We know this is the right model to enable us to bring our leafy greens to markets all over the country and are confident that once consumers in those new markets try our lettuce, they’ll never go back.

Little Leaf emphasizes sustainability. Can you highlight specific environmental practices that set the company apart and resonate with consumers?

Every step of our growing process was designed to limit our impact on the planet. For example, we utilize captured rainwater in our soil-less farming, which results in 90% less water usage than field-grown greens. Plus our greenhouse locations are in regions with high natural precipitation and not dependent on groundwater as the west coast growers do. . Our Devens, MA greenhouse gets 45 inches of rain per year alone and we use all of it, whereas Salinas, California sees only 10 inches of rain per year.

Our greenhouses are also built to maximize the free power of the sun, enabling us to grow our leafy greens with natural sunlight and solar-powered energy. We’re also using space much more efficiently and have 30 times more yield than conventional farms. In fact, 10 acres of our indoor greenhouse replaces 300 acres in a traditional farm. Our packages are just as important to our process, which is why they’re made from 100% post-consumer PET, which makes them infinitely recyclable and provides a much longer shelf life, too.

In a competitive market environment, what sets Little Leaf Farms apart, and how do you plan to maintain your leadership position as you expand to new markets?

We have always approached growing lettuce as a farming company, rather than a tech company. While we are technologists and our technology is cutting-edge, our priority is growing sustainable, local lettuce that most importantly, tastes great. Our lettuce arrives on grocery store shelves within 24 hours of harvesting, spending less time traveling than most other lettuces. This, in addition to our highly automated system and sustainable growing practices, results in fresh, flavorful leafy greens that remain crispy a remarkably long time after purchase. At the end of the day, we’re growing food. People want to buy and eat what tastes good, and our amazing taste is what’s going to continue to be the differentiator for us. We’ve also grown our business in a way that gives us the ability to scale profitably and better service our retailers, which is going to continue to put us in a position to challenge and compete with field-grown brands as we enter new markets. We’ve surpassed field-grown greens in New England and I’m confident we can replicate that success in other markets across the country as we grow.

In discussing the company’s success, you’ve mentioned maintaining a “farming company” mindset rather than a “tech play” approach. Can you elaborate on how this mindset influences decision-making, innovation, and the overall character of Little Leaf, especially considering the evolving landscape of technology in agriculture?

Our business is about farming, and we consider farming a people-based business that puts the crop first. This mindset enables us to recruit the best team of growers, R&D staff, operations staff, and more to carry out our mission of growing fresh leafy greens for all. The farmer-first mindset also reinforces our commitment to growing a product that tastes great and that people actually want to eat, which ties directly to our mission of bringing fresh, leafy greens for all.

What’s next for Little Leaf Farms?

Our current focus is on getting our leafy greens to as many consumers as possible. Our recent expansion into McAdoo, PA has not only doubled our production capacity but has increased our retail presence to nearly 5,000 stores, expanding our footprint to include retailers in the Midwest and Southeast.

We’ve also expanded our product line to now offer salad kits made with our signature Baby Crispy Green Leaf lettuce, which had an initial launch in the Northeast this fall but will be expanding to our full distribution footprint in January 2024.

Learn more about Little Leaf Farms by visiting the website. And, make plans now to join us for Indoor Ag-Con 2024 to hear Paul’s opening morning keynote address at 8 am on Monday, March 11, 2024!