The new urban agriculture campus of Gotham Greens will increase the production to 11 million heads of lettuce annually
Image: Gotham Greens’ new greenhouse facility in Chicago. Photo: Courtesy of Gotham Greens.
Gotham Greens, an indoor greenhouse agriculture and food company, has opened a large greenhouse in Chicago, Illinois.
The greenhouse is expected to enable the company in round the year supply of fresh produce to keep up with the spiking demand from retail, restaurant and foodservice consumers across the Midwest.
The 100,000ft² greenhouse is located on the former Ryerson Steel Mill, which is now being repurposed by Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives.
It is the second greenhouse for Gotham Greens in the Historic Pullman Neighborhood of Chicago and is its sixth greenhouse in the US. With the new facility, the company’s Midwest production is now claimed to have been more than doubled at 11 million heads of lettuce annually.
Gotham Greens co-founder and CEO Viraj Puri said: “Since 2009, we’ve worked to transform how and where fresh produce is grown to provide more people with access to local, sustainably-grown produce that is as delicious as it is nutritious.
“After opening our first greenhouse in Chicago in 2015, we have received tremendous support from retailers, restaurants and shoppers alike who love that we can provide a reliable, year-round supply of fresh produce that’s grown locally.
“We’re thrilled to open our second greenhouse in Chicago to expand our production and distribution in the Midwest and bring our delicious leafy greens, herbs and fresh food products to even more people.”
The local cultivation and regional distribution network enable Gotham Greens to deliver the products quickly after being harvested at their peak to ensure that the produce is fresh tasting, nutritionally dense and long-lasting.
The greenhouse uses 95% less water and 97% less land
The company uses hydroponic systems in 100% renewable electricity-powered greenhouses, where 95% less water and 97% less land is claimed to be used, compared to conventional farming.
The new greenhouse also features its latest technological advances such as data-driven control tools to develop the highest-yielding, most efficient production systems.
Such a highly automated, climate-controlled facility claims to use less energy than other indoor farming techniques applied commercially and is touted to be 50% more efficient than its existing facilities.
The company’s produce includes leafy greens, herbs, salad dressings and pesto dips which are available at several grocery retailers including Whole Foods Market, Jewel-Osco, Target, Heinen’s Grocery Store, Sunset Foods, Pete’s Fresh Market and Peapod.
Additionally, it also partners with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Greater Roseland West Pullman Food Network, Pilot Light and the Chicago Botanical Garden’s Windy City Harvest.