Little Leaf Farms, the leading brand of sustainably grown packaged lettuce through controlled environment agriculture (CEA), has revealed plans to open a cutting-edge greenhouse in McAdoo, Pennsylvania, this coming fall. The facility will mark the company’s fifth greenhouse in the US and second in Pennsylvania. With 10 additional acres of indoor lettuce production, Little Leaf Farms will expand its retail presence to nearly 5,000 grocery stores, making its fresh greens available at major retailers throughout the Midwest and Southeast regions.

The expansion announcement, held on May 31, was attended by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and other state representatives, celebrating Little Leaf Farms‘ growth in Pennsylvania. Little Leaf Farms, which currently owns 180 acres in McAdoo, has rapidly become the largest producer of indoor-grown leafy greens in the state. Since opening its first 10-acre greenhouse in July 2022, the company anticipates employing over 170 individuals by the end of 2023.

Paul Sellew, the founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms, emphasized the company’s commitment to the CEA industry and its mission of providing fresh and delicious leafy greens to consumers. The 10 additional acres will significantly increase the company’s capacity, enabling the production of more than 20 million pounds of leafy greens annually across all its sites.

The new greenhouse will incorporate state-of-the-art technology including advanced heating, cooling, and lighting systems. Additionally, it will leverage the power of the sun and fresh rainwater. Little Leaf Farms’ hands-free automated grow system, which ensures the lettuce remains untouched from seed to packaging and eliminates the need for washing, will also be integrated into the greenhouse. The brand’s lettuce is cultivated year-round, harvested daily, and delivered to grocery stores within 24 hours to optimize freshness.

As part of the ceremony, Little Leaf Farms presented a $10,000 donation to Feeding Pennsylvania, a local nonprofit focused on reducing hunger and food insecurity across the state. The funds will be distributed among the organization’s member food banks to support individuals facing food insecurity in the area.

Little Leaf Farms remains dedicated to revolutionizing food production and making fresh leafy greens accessible to all. The brand recently announced its projection to exceed $100 million in retail sales by the end of 2023. With the capacity for further expansion in Pennsylvania and its existing three greenhouses in Devens, Massachusetts, Little Leaf Farms is poised for continued growth and expansion.