Three new growing locations for leafy vegetables in east and central US

Country: United States

Climate: Continental

Surface: Total of 102.000 m²

Cultivation: Leafy Greens

Solution: Ultra-Clima®

Customer: BrightFarms

Case study

BrightFarms brings fresh and local closer with new hub

BrightFarms, a prominent leader in the indoor farming sector, recently launched a new regional greenhouse hub in Yorkville, Illinois, marking a significant expansion of its sustainable indoor farming operations. This new facility is one of three regional greenhouse hubs BrightFarms is establishing in 2024 to better serve consumers across the Eastern and Central United States with fresh, locally-grown leafy greens. With additional hubs in Texas and Georgia scheduled to open later in the year, BrightFarms will triple its production capacity, setting a new standard in controlled environment agriculture.

The issue of climate control: how BrightFarms delivers fresh vegetables year-round

To meet increasing demand for locally-grown, pesticide-free leafy greens, BrightFarms needed a greenhouse solution that would maintain optimal growing conditions throughout the year, irrespective of seasonal changes or geographic climate variations. As BrightFarms moves toward building a coast-to-coast indoor supply chain, a resilient and scalable technology was essential to ensure consistent quality and supply.

Ultra-Clima® technology: driving BrightFarms' growth

For its new greenhouse hub in Yorkville, Illinois, BrightFarms partnered with KUBO to implement Ultra-Clima® technology—a cutting-edge greenhouse solution that enables year-round, efficient climate control. KUBO’s Ultra-Clima® technology allows BrightFarms to establish precise growing environments across diverse climates, achieving uniform, high-quality crop yields while minimizing resource use. This innovative system not only supports BrightFarms' sustainability goals but also increases productivity and ensures a reliable supply of fresh produce to consumers, regardless of external weather conditions.

The Ultra-Clima®-equipped Yorkville greenhouse has quickly become a key source of fresh, pesticide-free leafy greens for the Chicagoland area. Residents can now access locally-grown, fresh salad greens year-round at major retailers like Jewel-Osco, Mariano’s, and Pick N Save. By localizing production closer to consumers, BrightFarms reduces both transport time and environmental impact, aligning with its mission to transform access to sustainable food options.

“Our new greenhouse hubs mark a step forward for BrightFarms. With our three new 8-acre facilities we’re scaling up to meet demand and driving a healthier future for the communities we serve.”

Steve Platt - CEO of BrightFarms

Implementation KUBO Companies

In our projects we like to make use of the various disciplines within the KUBO companies. This is why you will almost always find these installations/software in our projects.

KUBO

For BrightFarms' new regional greenhouse center in Yorkville, Illinois, KUBO played a crucial role in optimizing sustainable production. By installing the innovative Ultra-Clima® technology, KUBO made it possible to precisely control the climate within the greenhouse year-round, regardless of weather or season. This advanced greenhouse solution enables BrightFarms to continuously supply high-quality, pesticide-free leafy vegetables to consumers in the Chicago area and beyond. KUBO's energy-efficient climate control and smart technology allow BrightFarms to increase productivity with a minimal carbon footprint. KUBO is thus contributing to the future of indoor farming and supporting BrightFarms in achieving their mission: a sustainable, local source of fresh vegetables for a healthier consumer.

KUBO Sustainable Greenhouses

PDI

PDI has realized a screen installation. The advantages of this screen include optimum climate control and improved crop protection.

PDI Screen Systems

About BrightFarms

BrightFarms is an American leader in the booming indoor farming industry, transforming how produce is grown and delivered with its expanding network of high-tech, sustainable hydroponic farms. Acquired by Cox Enterprises in 2021, BrightFarms operates hydroponic greenhouse farms in the communities it serves, enabling it to eliminate time, distance, and costs from the food supply chain. BrightFarmsʼ growing methods, a model for the future of scalable, sustainable local farming, uses far less energy, land, and water than long-distance, field-grown agriculture. BrightFarms currently operates seven high-tech greenhouse farms in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, and Illinois, with two additional regional salad greenhouse hubs to open in late 2024. BrightFarmsʼ fresh lettuce options, from classic greens to crunchy mixes and salad kits, are available in more than 5,300 retail stores* across the Central and Eastern parts of the United States.

Website BrightFarms