US: Greenhouse grows produce for local stores

Romaine, Boston Bib, and Red Leaf, these are just some examples of the Finger Lakes Fresh products that are produced from the hard work of Challenge Industries workers.

It is all done in a state-of-the-art greenhouse house owned by Cornell University and uses cutting edge technology. Now Cornell has turned over license operation to Challenge Industries. "Cornell built this as a research facility about seven years ago and they turned it over to us a commercial operation this year," said Patrick McKee, President of Challenge Industries

This is the hydroponics greenhouse. And when operating at maximum capacity they can harvest more than 1,200 heads of lettuce in a single day. Sales are going so well for Challenge industries that they are looking to expand.

They are looking to first add more employees as the greenhouse becomes a seven day a week operation and eventually expand the facility. Just recently they even expanded their product line to things like basil, bok choy and other Asian vegetables.

Laura Blakeley is a Challenge client that has been working at the greenhouse for a year now. She says she loves coming to the greenhouse rather than being in an office, "It doesn't have the stress factor and I get a lot more sunlight definitely."

McKee says all this wouldn't be possible without consumers buying Finger Lakes Fresh products in their local grocery stores, "It supports Challenge but it supports the idea of having local agriculture. Particularly, now, that we see gas at $3.20 a gallon. It is much more important to have local produce then to ship it in from California."

With all the recent success it looks like the lettuce won't be the only thing growing at the greenhouse.