BrightFarms to invest $21 million to operate North Carolina greenhouse

Hendersonville, N.C. – BrightFarms will expand into North Carolina with a new 280,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse in Henderson County. The new greenhouse will deliver up to 2 million pounds of local leafy greens and herbs to supermarkets in North Carolina and surrounding states.

The North Carolina expansion is driven by strong demand from consumers and leading retailers in the region. Since its entry into retail stores in 2013, BrightFarms has driven incremental growth in the salad greens category for leading retailer partners in markets across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, according to a press release.

“Americans want produce that’s fresh, safe and clean. It’s the reason that locally grown has become the #1 purchase driver in produce for supermarkets,” said Steve Platt, BrightFarms CEO. “We are incredibly grateful for the support from Governor Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Commerce and look forward to bringing local, pesticide-free leafy greens to North Carolina and neighboring states.”

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper weighed in the on the project. “We are thrilled to welcome BrightFarms to North Carolina," he said. "Their sustainable farming will conserve water, land and energy resources and improve the health of North Carolinians."

BrightFarms’ North Carolina greenhouse is the latest addition to the company’s growing network of sustainable local farms. The company currently operates farms in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois and Ohio. Each farm delivers fresh, pesticide-free baby greens to supermarket partners in as little as 24 hours of harvest. BrightFarms offers a full portfolio of salad greens and herbs including baby spinach, the No. 1 item for the brand.