Baltimore-based Gotham Greens announced the official opening of its new 100,000-s.f. hydroponic greenhouse outside of Baltimore. Reimagining a portion of the former Bethlehem Steel Mill located in Sparrows Point, this is Gotham Greens’ seventh greenhouse nationwide and its first that will provide a year-round supply of fresh produce to retail, restaurant and foodservice customers across 10 states throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.
Gotham Greens’ produce is grown using hydroponic systems that use 95 percent less water and 97 percent less land than conventional farming. The Baltimore greenhouse will produce more than six million heads of lettuce annually and bring the Brooklyn, New York-based, privately held company’s total annual production to more than 30 million heads of lettuce nationwide. This includes Gotham Greens’ new regional favorite, Chesapeake Crunch, inspired by the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which helps to filter and to protect drinking water for local residents.
“Gotham Greens is a brand dedicated to changing how people think, feel and interact with their food,” said Viraj Puri, co-founder and CEO of Gotham Greens. “We’re excited to introduce our line of leafy greens, herbs, sauces, dips and dressings to even more people up and down the East Coast. By conducting our first harvest during the cold winter season, this underscores our commitment to growing and delivering high-quality, long-lasting and delicious produce all year round.”
Gotham Greens’ produce is grown using hydroponic systems in 100 percent renewable electricity-powered greenhouses that use 95 percent less water and 97 percent less land than conventional farming.
“Given the global issues surrounding conventional agriculture, it is important that we continue to stand out in a field of greens in the produce aisle,” Puri said. “Our thoughtful approach to resource conservation and our brand mission are at the forefront of the design strategy, while our refreshed branding makes it even easier for consumers to shop for high-quality, local produce.”
Gotham Greens is creating 60 full-time green jobs in Baltimore and has partnered with the Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development and the Center for Urban Families to host hiring events. The company sponsored a local mobile Pantry On The Go on March 11 in partnership with the Maryland Food Bank to provide fresh produce and other pantry staples to its neighbors facing food insecurity. The event also served as a local job fair, recruiting for year-round clean manufacturing jobs in a neighborhood facing high rates of unemployment.
The company’s latest greenhouses are advanced, data-driven, climate-controlled facilities—the most efficient production systems available today. These greenhouses are some of the highest-yielding farms around and use less energy, less land and less water than other farming techniques. Plus, advancements in machine learning and data analysis allow Gotham Greens to monitor the crop’s health and progress.
