BrightFarms is growing fresh produce in the same communities where it ’ s consumed .
COX ENTERPRISES : EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
The freshest , tastiest , cleanest , most responsibly grown produce should be readily accessible by everyone — and Cox Enterprises is helping make that a reality .
One of Cox Enterprises ’ earliest investments in the cleantech space came in 2018 in the form of a leafy green . That ’ s when it first invested in BrightFarms to help build a healthier and more sustainable future .
BrightFarms fit the bill perfectly , revolutionizing what ’ s possible in the agricultural industry by growing local produce indoors without soil , pesticides , herbicides or fertilizers . This hydroponic growing system uses 80 % less water , 90 % less land and 95 % less shipping fuel than long-distance field-grown produce .
The result is fresh food grown in the same communities where it ’ s consumed — food that ’ s healthier , better tasting , better for the environment and more easily accessible .
BrightFarms is now rapidly scaling that accessibility by working with the nation ’ s largest retailers to bring local indoor-grown leafy greens to more than twothirds of the population by 2025 . It already operates greenhouses in Pennsylvania , Ohio , Illinois , Virginia , North Carolina and New England — doubling in size and production in 2021 and making its products
available to more than 4,160 retail stores in the U . S ., which is the most of any indoor farming player .
Cox Enterprises acquired BrightFarms in 2020 , paving the way for the company to scale even more . In fact , BrightFarms has plans to increase its investment in talent , research and innovation as it expands its product portfolio within and beyond the salad category . The recent formation of BrightLabs , a world-class innovation and research hub , will be key to this effort . Located at the Ohio growing facility , BrightLabs will expand biotechnologies to increase the profitability of indoor farming operations .
“ BrightFarms has built the most advanced network of local indoor farms in the nation , and we ’ re poised to develop the next phase of game-changing products and technology solutions for our operations . Being part of the Cox team allows us to scale more rapidly and transform the indoor agricultural industry for American consumers .”
Steve Platt , CEO , BrightFarms
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