“We grow produce in a controlled environment, which allows us to deliver a safe and high quality product year -round,” says Robert Colangelo with Green Sense Farms. The company grows leafy greens, micro greens, culinary herbs and lettuce in a pesticide-free, herbicide-free and non-GMO environment. The produce is grown with coconut coir in a hydroponic system of vertical stacking tubs of 10-14 layers tall. Philips LED growing lights provide the light for the plants.
Locally grown
All of the company’s produce is sold as ‘locally grown’. “We serve six Mid-Western states and with a footprint of 30,000 square feet, we are able to distribute produce to an area of 20 million consumers within a 100 mile radius,” said Colangelo. Green Sense Farms sells its produce to chain grocery stores as well as produce companies and a select group of restaurants that embrace the locally grown concept. Wholefoods, one of Green Sense’s customers, just awarded the company with a Wholefoods “better” rating. For retail, products are packed under the Green Sense Farms label.
Nationwide network
“Our ambition is to build a nationwide network of indoor vertical farms ,” said Colangelo. “New farms will be built at perishable food distribution centers as that would allow us to harvest and pack at night, have the produce on the truck in the morning and at the store within hours of harvesting . It would improve freshness, but also minimize transportation, reduce costs and reduce shrinkage.” Green Sense is in negotiations with distribution centers in Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin at the moment.
Because of the controlled environment, Green Sense has a very consistent crop yield and can harvest a little quicker than an open field farm as the lights are on 20 to 22 hours a day. Micro greens can be harvested after 12 days. For baby greens and culinary herbs, it takes 25-30 days to be ready for harvest and lettuce is fully grown in 35-40 days.
For more information:
Robert Colangelo, Founding Farmer/CEO
Green Sense Farms
Tel: (+1) 219-762-9990