Tops partners with greenhouse grower Little Leaf Farms

Tops Markets says it’s found a partner who shares its goals in Little Leaf Farms. 

Little Leaf Farms, Devens, Mass., is a hydroponic greenhouse grower that provides Tops with lettuce delivered to its stores within 24 hours, significantly improving shelf life, according to a release.

“Most lettuce travels 3,000 miles across the country, sacrificing fuel and freshness along the way,” Carina Young, associate brand manager for Little Leaf Farms, said in the release. “By growing closer to stores like Tops, we’re able to significantly reduce food mileage and food waste while offering our consumers fresher, better tasting greens.”

Little Leaf Farms’ sustainability efforts extend to its water sourcing. The grower collects 100% of the water that falls onto its roof, sanitizes it and then uses it to water its greens, only drawing on groundwater in times of severe drought, the release said. Any excess water that the lettuce does not use is recycled through a water filtration system and put back in the greenhouse. Growing this way uses 90% less water than field grown greens, according to Little Leaf Farms.

“Partnering with Little Leaf Farms allows Tops the peace of mind knowing we’re providing our customers with a product free of any GMOs or harmful pesticides and chemicals,” the release said.

As Little Leaf Farms' greenhouses are centrally located throughout the Northeast, the proximity allows Tops to reduce its fuel emissions during transportation from the greenhouse to the Tops warehouse.

“When it comes to best in class, Little Leaf sets the bar pretty high,” Brandon Bentley, Tops category business manager for vegetables, said in the release. “Not only do we pride ourselves in the relationship with the farm, but the entire organization believes in the same future we do. One with your food closer to home, one where you know your food is not only good for you, but good for our future through proper practices and pushing the envelope of innovation in sustainability.”

The Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops — currently operating 149 grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, including five that are run by franchisees — carries several of Little Leaf Farms’ products in most of its locations, including Baby Crispy Green Leaf Lettuce and Sweet Baby Butter Leaf.