Automated growing and packaging supports leafy greens rollout at Costco

BrightFarms, a Cox Farms brand, has expanded the availability of its Harvest Blend leafy greens to Costco warehouses across the Atlanta metropolitan area.

The salad greens are grown at the company's greenhouse in Macon, Georgia, approximately an hour south of Atlanta, using controlled environment agriculture. BrightFarms said the facility enables leafy greens to be grown throughout the year under consistent conditions.

Growing and packaging take place within the same facility, with the greenhouse incorporating enclosed growing areas, closed-loop water systems and automated processes. According to the company, these measures are intended to support food safety and reduce potential contamination risks during production.

The enclosed greenhouse environment helps protect crops from external elements, while irrigation water is sourced from monitored supplies and regularly tested before being recirculated through the growing system.

Automation is also used throughout the growing and packaging process to reduce human handling. Produce is grown, harvested and packed at the Macon site before being transported to retailers.

BrightFarms said the location of the greenhouse also allows it to shorten transportation distances for customers in the region. Harvest Blend can be delivered from Macon to Costco warehouses across the Southeast in as little as 24 hours.

The Harvest Blend combines green leaf and red leaf lettuce and is now available in the produce departments of participating Costco warehouses in the Atlanta area.