Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and founder and CEO Paul Sellew, on behalf of Little Leaf Farms, announced the company is establishing its first Tennessee greenhouse in Coffee County.
Little Leaf Farms will create 318 new jobs over five years and invest nearly $75 million at the Manchester Industrial Park, a Select Tennessee Certified Site. The company’s operations will be state-of-the art with new growing and manufacturing facilities that have the capacity to produce and distribute packaged leafy greens throughout the Midwest and Southeast U.S.
Additionally, the project benefits from Tennessee’s AgTrack Cost Share Fund, an incentive program to promote and encourage agricultural development in Tennessee.
Little Leaf Farms is recognized as the country’s No. 1 brand of packaged lettuce sustainably grown through controlled environment agriculture. The company developed its first greenhouse in Massachusetts in 2015 and has since grown to include facilities in Pennsylvania (which is the largest indoor leafy greens campus in North America), and with today’s announcement, Tennessee.
Quotes
“Agriculture is the backbone of Tennessee’s economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and driving growth in our rural communities. I’m proud to welcome Little Leaf Farms to our state and am grateful for their commitment to innovation and job creation that will strengthen our agricultural industry and expand opportunity for hardworking Tennesseans.” – Gov. Bill Lee
“Landing Little Leaf Farms in Tennessee is a testament to the strong, cohesive partnerships we have with our state and local leaders. I’m grateful to those who played a role in recruiting this company to Manchester, which will advance one of Tennessee’s most vital industries and allow Tennesseans the opportunity to live, work and raise a family right here in Coffee County.” – TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter
“When we launched Little Leaf Farms ten years ago, our mission was simple: to bring fresh, sustainably grown leafy greens to everyone. A decade later, that commitment remains unwavering and our expansion into Tennessee marks an exciting new chapter. With its central location and rich natural resources, Manchester is the perfect setting for year-round production and distribution, and we’re grateful to all of our partners here who made it happen.” – Paul Sellew, founder and CEO, Little Leaf Farms
About Little Leaf Farms
Little Leaf Farms is on a mission to transform the way food is grown through peri-urban agricultural practices that are rebuilt for the modern world. Using advanced greenhouse technologies, Little Leaf Farms is growing fresh, sustainably farmed lettuce 365 days a year. Little Leaf Farms utilizes captured rainwater, natural sunlight that shines through high transmission glass, and solar-powered energy in their precise, soil-less hydroponic farming. The crispy, flavorful baby greens are harvested without ever touching human hands and are free from harmful pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. For more information, visit littleleaffarms.com or @littleleaffarms.
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD)
TNECD is the state’s primary agency committed to fostering economic growth through job creation and community development. By attracting new corporate investment and facilitating the growth of existing businesses, the department works to strengthen Tennessee’s competitive landscape. Additionally, TNECD strives to increase the economic prosperity for all Tennesseans by providing grants to communities statewide, helping them to become vibrant, business-friendly environments where companies can flourish. For more information, visit us at tnecd.com.
Media Contacts:
Little Leaf Farms
Anna Bagliore
360PR+ for Little Leaf Farms
(917) 831-7867
abagliore@360pr.plus
TNECD
Chris O’Brien
Public Information Officer
(615) 934-5879
Chris.OBrien@tn.gov
