BrightFarms Brings Fresh, Local Produce to Pa. Region

BrightFarms’ new 56,000-square-foot greenhouse in Lower Makefield Township, Pa., is now providing fresh, locally grown produce for local grocer McCaffrey’s Market, the first retailer to join forces with the New York-based company. Produce will also go to Superfresh, a banner of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. (A&P), and Philadelphia restaurants through John Vena Inc., a family-owned and -operated produce business located in the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market.

Financed with a $3 million equity facility provided by Clean Feet Capital, which will also be deployed across other BrightFarms greenhouses, the new facility is capable of growing up to 500,000 pounds of produce annually. BrightFarms harvests produce daily, enabling grocers to provide their customers with produce that the company contends is visibly fresher, more flavorful and more nutritious.

At the Lower Makefield Township greenhouse’s recent unveiling, Jim McCaffrey, CEO of Langhorne, Pa.-based McCaffrey’s Market said: “Everybody wants to know where their produce is coming from. They want it in a pest-free, all-natural environment. This is a win-win for our customers.” McCaffrey’s is carrying BrightFarms’ spring mix, baby romaine, baby arugula, baby kale, basil, live basil, grape tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, and tomatoes on the vine at its stores in Princeton, N.J.; West Windsor, N.J.; Newtown, Pa.; and Yardley, Pa.

Superfresh will feature spring mix, Asian greens, baby arugula, baby kale and basil. “Through BrightFarms, we [will] include even more locally grown produce in our neighborhood stores,” noted Mike Mills, EVP and chief merchandising officer at Montvale, N.J.-based A&P. “We’ll be offering the freshest produce customers can buy.”

Added BrightFarms CEO Paul Lightfoot: “When you buy BrightFarms’ lettuces, tomatoes and herbs, you’re not going to wonder where your food came from. It’s grown right here in this building.”

BrightFarms grows local produce nationwide. By financing, building and managing greenhouse farms at or near grocery retailers, the company eliminates time, distance and costs from the produce supply chain.