Schuylkill County indoor farm to be largest of its kind in North America

A Schuylkill County greenhouse campus will be the largest the largest controlled environment agriculture (CEA) leafy green campus in North America with its most recent expansion.

Little Leaf Farms, which sells packaged lettuce sustainably grown through an indoor CEA, is announcing further expansion in McAdoo with a new greenhouse set to open this fall. The new 10-acre greenhouse is the third greenhouse for Little Leaf Farms in the state.

The 10 additional acres of greenhouse space will increase Little Leaf Farms' Pennsylvania staff count to over 300 and support the company's expansion throughout the Southeast and Midwest regions, increasing its retail presence to over 7,000 grocery stores.

"With our latest expansion in Pennsylvania, which increases our total acreage and supports our progress toward our goal of reaching $200 million in retail sales this year, we are well positioned to continue to lead the CEA leafy green industry," said Paul Sellew, founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms. "Importantly, it expands our commitment of bringing fresh, leafy greens to all."

According to a press release, Little Leaf Farms currently represents nearly 50% of packaged salad grown through CEA in the U.S.

Sellew said the company plans to open several more greenhouses in the future to continue to serve its growing consumer base.

He noted that Little Leaf Farms also recently closed a new credit facility with capacity of $250 million, comprised of term loan facilities, delayed draw facilities, and a revolving credit line.

The credit facility is a significant milestone supporting the brand's ongoing capital expansion initiatives as it continues to meet growing consumer demand.

The transaction was arranged with a syndicate of banks led by Bank of America, alongside banks within the Farm Credit System.

"Securing this substantial credit facility marks a significant achievement for Little Leaf Farms as we continue to invest in expanding our operations and meeting the increasing demand for locally grown, sustainably produced lettuce," said Sellew. "This funding will enable us to accelerate our growth plans, further strengthening our position as a leader in the CEA industry."

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