Hydroponic Baby Greens Are ‘Clean From The Start’
Hydroponic Baby Greens Are ‘Clean From The Start’
Hydroponic Baby Greens Are ‘Clean From The Start’
By Cindy Cantrell GLOBE CORRESPONDENT JUNE 02, 2018
As founder of Backyard Farms, Paul Sellew of Carlisle brought flavorful, greenhouse-grown tomatoes to the East Coast market. His next company, Harvest Power, became a major processor of organic materials in North America. As founder and chief executive of Little Leaf Farms in Devens, he oversees the growing of hydroponic baby greens that are sold to grocery stores, food service institutions, and restaurants, as well as donated to food banks and other organizations.
Q. What is hydroponics?
A. It means growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without soil. This method is completely sustainable and 20 to 25 times more productive than soil-grown horticulture. In Massachusetts, where we have fierce winters, it’s also more efficient. The plants grow year-round in a controlled environment utilizing natural sunlight and a rainwater-based irrigation system that uses 90 percent less water than field-grown lettuce companies.
Q. Why is that advantageous to the consumer?
A. We seed and harvest seven days a week, so our produce is in the market the next day. We’re delivering unparalleled freshness and quality, which translates into better flavor and more nutrition.
Q. What does your motto ‘Clean From the Start’ mean?
A. Our lettuce is seeded, grown, cut, and packaged without ever being touched by human hands. We have never, and we never will use chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Instead, we vigilantly practice biological control so if an insect attacks our lettuce, we introduce another insect to attack that one. Consumers can be confident they’re purchasing a safe product, grown in an environment that employs the most advanced food safety practices.
Q. What led to your recent greenhouse expansion?
A. It’s a consumer-driven expansion. In trying to keep up with demand, we concluded that we need to more than double production. We just added 2 1/2 acres, for a total of 5 acres under glass. We also got approval to build on 5 contiguous acres, which will give us 10 acres total when we expand the greenhouse again in 2019.
Q. What is your goal for the business?
A. We want to build a sustainable food production model that will be the dominant supplier to local markets. We’ve gone up against gigantic West Coast companies, and we’re honored that we’ve been able to build traction and a loyal customer following. We’re doing it a better way at Little Leaf Farms.
For more information, visit littleleaffarms.com.
Cindy Cantrell may be reached at cindycantrell20@gmail.com.