BrightFarms has opened its first greenhouse in Texas, bringing 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 the company is opening in 2024.
"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, Texas site is the second of three regional hubs the company is opening in 2024.
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 the company 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.
Cox Enterprises is a family-owned company dedicated to empowering people to build a better future for the next generation. In service to that mission, it became the majority investor in BrightFarms in October 2020 and fully acquired the company in August 2021. Cox Farms, Cox Enterprises' venture into controlled environment agriculture, became one of North America's largest greenhouse operators in November 2024, surpassing 700 acres across its brands, BrightFarms and Mucci Farms.
The Lorena greenhouse will cover 1.5 million square feet upon completion.
"With the opening of our new greenhouse in Texas, we are taking another significant step toward securing a sustainable food supply," said Steve Bradley, president of Cox Farms. "This milestone reinforces our investment of over $2 billion in sustainable businesses and technologies, ensuring healthy, responsibly grown produce for generations to come."
With an ability to expand to nearly 100 acres, the new greenhouses in Texas, Illinois, and Georgia will enable the company to reach over two-thirds of the U.S. population.
For more information:
BrightFarms
Tel: +1 (866) 857-8745
www.brightfarms.com