Gotham Greens, a greenhouse grower on a mission to provide fresh produce within a day's drive of 90% of consumers across the U.S., has expanded once again. The Certified B Corporation and one of the fastest-growing indoor farming brands, has opened a 210,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse in Monroe, Ga. — its second greenhouse opening in two months and the company's 12th greenhouse nationwide.
“This greenhouse is our first opening in the Southeast region, which will help us meet the continued increased demand for the Gotham Greens brand and allow Gotham Greens to grow and deliver our fresh salad greens and herbs within a day's drive to more states throughout the region, including Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and more,” Viraj Puri, co-founder and CEO of Gotham Greens told The Packer in an email. “Until this point, our existing greenhouses in Virginia and Maryland have been able to meet some of this regional demand.
Located between Atlanta and Athens, Ga., the new greenhouse will provide a year-round supply of fresh produce to retail, restaurant and foodservice customers throughout the region, including Whole Foods Market, Publix, Harris Teeter, The Fresh Market and more, Puri said. This includes new offerings, such as the regionally inspired Coastal Crunch lettuce and family-size packs of the bestselling Butterhead and Gourmet Spring Mix.
Gotham Greens' new facility in Monroe, Ga. (Photo courtesy of Gotham Greens)
The Georgia greenhouse is the largest, most technologically advanced Gotham Greens has ever built, Puri says. The indoor farm uses enhanced automation, climate control and data science capabilities to overcome the region's hot, humid climate and ensure all leafy greens and herbs meet the standard consumers nationwide have come to associate with and expect from the brand, he added.
In contrast to traditional open-field farming methods, Gotham Greens says its farms use up to 90% less water and 97% less land compared with conventional farming methods and provide a consistent and proven way of growing food closer to where people live. Additionally, indoor-grown greens aren't vulnerable to the elements that can challenge field crops, such as heavy rains or drought.
“Gotham Greens' new, state-of-the-art greenhouse facility in Monroe will deploy the latest, cutting-edge agricultural technology, while creating almost 100 jobs in Walton County and providing consumers across Georgia with sustainable, Georgia Grown produce year-round,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a news release. “Gotham Greens and the Georgia Grown brand are rooted in the shared values of quality, integrity, and innovation, and we're proud to welcome them to the great state of Georgia.”
Agriculture is Georgia's oldest and leading industry, contributing $70 billion to the state's economy. With increasing high-impact weather events, it is essential for the region to embrace new, innovative farming methods and products, the release said.
In Georgia, 1 in 9 people face hunger, including 1 in 8 children. Gotham Greens says it will work with local nonprofit partners to help address food insecurity and provide seedlings for community gardens and educational purposes. In 2022, the company donated more than 44,000 pounds of food to families in need and provided more than 27,000 seedling donations for community gardens and educational purposes.
“We started with an ambitious idea: to grow more food in cities, to reduce food miles and waste, conserve resources and help people eat more plants,” Puri said. “Today, Gotham Greens is one of the largest indoor leafy greens producers in North America with our national network of greenhouses across nine states. We are in the final stages of opening our new facility in Texas and have additional greenhouse projects in development.”