The Packer: BrightFarms building fifth greenhouse

BrightFarms plans to open Texas facility

The Packer
By Chris Koger

BrightFarms plans to build its newest greenhouse, which will be its fifth, in Abilene, Texas.

The 195,000-square-foot facility is slated to begin supplying herbs and salad greens to area grocery stores in early 2019, according to a news release.

Demand for local produce is boosting BrightFarms’ sales incrementally, according to the release, with 3% new category buyers and 22% category growth.

CEO Paul Lightfoot said retailers are finding that meeting demand for local produce is challenging. Year-round local production at BrightFarms facilities is solving that problem in markets the company serves, Lightfoot said in the release.

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