NEW YORK and SAINT PAUL, Minn. — BrightFarms, Inc. and Cub Foods, a 69-store banner of supermarket industry leader Supervalu, announced they are partnering to deliver year-round local produce to locations throughout the Twin Cities. The produce will be grown at the greenhouse BrightFarms is building in Saint Paul through its partnership with J&J Distributing.
Produce from the 38,000 square foot greenhouse will be sold at Cub Foods, which is committed to sourcing more local produce and increasing sustainability. Each year, BrightFarms' Saint Paul greenhouse will grow over 350,000 pounds of lettuces, tomatoes, and herbs delivered within hours—not days—to supermarket shelves.
A press conference and groundbreaking for the greenhouse will take place on June 4, 2012 from 10:00am to 10:30am at J&J Distributing. Paul Lightfoot, CEO of BrightFarms and Chuck Lynch, Senior V.P. of Operations for Cub Foods, will join Mayor Christopher B. Coleman, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, and Jim Hannigan, President & CEO of J&J Distributing, to speak about the project.
BrightFarms will complete the greenhouse and begin delivering produce in fall, 2012.
"Cub Foods is committed to being the local neighborhood grocer for customers throughout the Twin Cities and we are excited about the many possibilities this greenhouse can present in the future," says Chuck Lynch, Senior V.P. of Operations for Cub Foods. "Consumers will have new opportunities to get fresh, locally grown and sustainable produce year-round as a result of this project."
"I am proud to partner with Cub Foods, a leading retailer in the Twin Cities that shares our dedication to environmental stewardship and customer service," says Paul Lightfoot, BrightFarms CEO.
About BrightFarms
BrightFarms grows local produce, nationwide. By financing, building, and operating greenhouse farms at or near grocery retailers, BrightFarms eliminates time, distance, and costs from the produce supply chain. BrightFarms local produce is fresher, more flavorful, and better for the environment, enabling grocers to change their produce supply chain in a way that improves the planet and their profits.
About Cub Foods
Since 1968, Cub Foods has been bringing more to the table by providing the best grocery value to its customers. Cub traces its beginnings to an idea that redefined grocery retail in the Midwest: "Consumers United for Buying." Consumers are the driving force behind Cubs' business goals and strategies. Cub continues to offer the premier value for consumers' dollars. Cub Foods currently operates 69 stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The majority of its stores are located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.
Source: BrightFarms, Inc.