Hydroponic crop production is coming to South Bend, Indiana, as Pure Green Farms nears the completion of its year-long construction. Spanning four acres and using a fully automated system from Green Automation, Pure Green Farms will have nineteen “growing lines”. As Johnathan McCullar, head grower at Pure Green Farms, explains, “that each line has its own automated system, so you can produce nineteen different varieties under the same roof if you wish.”
The new 4-acre hydroponic indoor farm built by the Dutch Bom Group will plans to supply over 8 million retail units in their first year with room to quadruple in size in the future.
Automated and hands free
Pure Green Farms uses fully automated NFT growing system designed by Green Automation for the production of baby leaf lettuces. “What we love about our system is the labor efficiency and space efficiency; Green Automation promoted this and they delivered. Our system is completely automated and hands-free, from the sowing to packaging,” says Matt Gura, Vice President of Operations at Pure Green Farms. This automation greatly reduces labor costs, as the growth stage (from sowing until harvest) can be managed by a single person if done well, while harvest and packaging operation requires 6-8 people.
NFT System
Green Automation also designs and manufactures an automated NFT system for the production of living (head) lettuce. Both the living lettuce and baby leaf lettuce systems are developed for greenhouse operation of at least one acre. With construction of 4 acres finalizing and more phases in the pipeline, Pure Green Farms is a shining star in Green Automation’s portfolio.
“What really drives us is being able to participate in the local economy to revitalize the community, create specialized jobs and be a part of local food security. We’re excited to do this in South Bend as its robust manufacturing industry is poised for a resurgence,” says Matt.
For more information:
Pure Green Farms
Jennifer McGraw
Tel: +1 (952) 426-2969
jmcgraw@goldensuninsights.com
www.enjoypuregreen.com
+1 215 847 6235
Helena.Borenius@greenautomation.com
greenautomation.com