Greenhouse lettuce grower Revol Greens says it’s doubling down on romaine production for the remainder of 2022, with plans to maintain production increases in 2023.
How does it plan to achieve this expansion goal? Revol Greens is opening a new 20-acre protected greenhouse facility in Temple, Texas where it anticipates growing upwards of 17 million pounds of greens annually, after a second building phase is complete. This new facility will add another site to Revol Green’s already sizeable roster of organic and conventional lettuce facilities located in Minnesota, California and Georgia, according to a news release.
This is no small feat, as the grower’s current output totals $20 million, annually. The plan to double romaine production comes just in time for fall lettuce harvest and, while Revol Greens’ operation is increasing considerably, it plans to maintain its business model of harvesting, packaging and delivering products all within a tight turnaround of one day, ensuring freshness and extended shelf life, says the company.
“Developing programs anchored in organic growing practices, sustainability and locally grown will always be core to what we do,” Tom Thompson, chief revenue officer at Revol Greens said in the release. “Building on that foundation, Revol Greens also offers grocers and food service operators an alternative to field grown romaine and breadth and scale to customers as they seek a greenhouse-protected alternative.”
Plans for a new controlled environment facility is slated to include the latest greenhouse technology and incorporate innovative growing methods such as automated harvest and packing as well as low water lettuce irrigation that uses UV-sterilized rainwater.
According to the release, Revol Green’s greenhouse-grown lettuce offers “an alternative to reduce the supply risk” that many in the industry have faced in recent years due to foodborne illness-related recalls and Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV).
All Revol Greens operations are certified by Primus Labs to meet Global Food Safety Initiative Standards and Revol Green’s organic line is fertilized with a proprietary plant-based fertilizer, called Plant-Fed Organic Nutrient Sources, the company said.
