Gotham Greens, which serves grocers like Publix, opens nearly 5-acre greenhouse near Athens

Sarah Dolezal, Athens Banner-Herald
Updated ·2 min read
Gotham Greens, a high-tech greenhouse company, opened in Monroe. The greenhouse, which uses up to 90% less water and 97% less land compared to conventional farming methods, will provide a year-round supply of Georgia Grown, fresh produce to retail, restaurant and foodservice customers throughout the region.
Gotham Greens, a high-tech greenhouse company, opened in Monroe. The greenhouse, which uses up to 90% less water and 97% less land compared to conventional farming methods, will provide a year-round supply of Georgia Grown, fresh produce to retail, restaurant and foodservice customers throughout the region.

A massive, high-tech greenhouse serving major grocers recently opened a half-hour outside Athens.

Gotham Greens, which opened its greenhouse in Monroe in September, provides locally grown leafy greens and herbs to major supermarkets across the state, including Publix, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods Market, Harris Teeter and more. The new 210,000 square-foot Gotham Greens facility is the first to be built in the Southeast and is the 12th nationwide, according to a release from the company.

"For most parts of the country, it's difficult to get fresh, locally grown produce all year round," co-founder and CEO Viraj Puri said. "Since most lettuce grown in the United States comes from California and Arizona, by the time it reaches its destination here in Georgia and surrounding areas, it loses its quality, taste and nutritional value — and has a much shorter shelf life."

Gotham Greens, a high-tech greenhouse company, opened in Monroe. The greenhouse, which uses up to 90% less water and 97% less land compared to conventional farming methods, will provide a year-round supply of Georgia Grown, fresh produce to retail, restaurant and foodservice customers throughout the region.
Gotham Greens, a high-tech greenhouse company, opened in Monroe. The greenhouse, which uses up to 90% less water and 97% less land compared to conventional farming methods, will provide a year-round supply of Georgia Grown, fresh produce to retail, restaurant and foodservice customers throughout the region.

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The new facility will create nearly 100 jobs, said Tyler Harper, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

“Gotham Greens and the Georgia Grown brand are rooted in the shared values of quality, integrity, and innovation, and we’re proud to welcome them to the great state of Georgia,” Harper said.

Gotham Greens was founded in 2009 by Puri and Eric Haley. The Certified B Corporation started as a single rooftop greenhouse in Brooklyn, New York, and has grown to become one of the largest greenhouse lettuce producers in North America. Today, Gotham Greens operates 40 acres of hydroponic greenhouses across nine states: Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, Colorado, California and Texas, Puri said.

Gotham Greens also uses a technique called controlled environment agriculture, which essentially means that you don't have to wait until summer to pick up a bunch of locally grown, fresh basil. Gotham Greens is able to stabilize the greenhouse in order to grow fresh produce year-round, despite weather conditions.

All of Gotham Greens' leafy greens and herbs are non-GMO and pesticide free, according to Puri.

"We started with an ambitious idea: to grow more food in cities, to reduce food miles and waste, conserve resources and help people eat more plants," Puri said. "With increasing climate and supply chain related issues facing our food system, it's more important than ever to bring innovative farming solutions that grow high-quality produce while using fewer precious natural resources."

They are expected to open three facilities in the U.S. in 2023, according to a media release. A 170,000-square-foot facility opened in Windsor, Colorado about in August.

Consumers can visit the Gotham Greens' website or social media (@gothamgreens) for recipe inspiration and ideas to make sure their plates are packed with plants.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Gotham Greens opens high-tech greenhouse in Monroe, Ga.