Jun 17, 2020Michigan’s Revolution Farms builds 2-acre greenhouse expansion
Revolution Farms, an indoor farm growing lettuce and salad greens, this summer is expanding the operation by adding 2 new acres of indoor greenhouse space.
The state-of-the-art facility will use the latest agriculture technologies, including a fully-automated plant-to-harvest system, to grow fresh, local produce year-round, according to a press release from the company.
Located in the outskirts of Grand Rapids, Revolution Farms right now can produce up to 500,000 pounds of fresh lettuce and greens per year – the expansion will push its capacity to 1.5 million pounds, according to the release.
Revolution Farms recently added 24 more West Michigan Meijer stores to the list of retailers carrying the local lettuce, which also includes D&W Fresh Market, VG’s, Family Fare and Forest Hills Foods, as well as independent stores statewide, and direct-to-consumer deliveries via Doorganics.
John Green, co-founder and CEO of Revolution Farms, said the addition “gives us the ability to grow more of consumers’ favorite lettuces, such as romaine, but also create ideal indoor ecosystems to grow more varieties of leafy greens and herbs.”
Pioneer Construction is the contractor for the 87,000 square-foot greenhouse addition, which started in February, according to the press release. It is expected to be complete in July and fully operational by the end of the year. The farm’s addition will introduce an advanced system that fully automates the planting, tending and harvesting process from seed to package.
The new technologies will complement computerized climate control systems already at the farm.
In addition to consumer availability at retail, restaurants and foodservice operators can purchase the farm’s salad mixes through Van Eerden and Gordon Food Service.