VIGEO GARDENS grew from a basement operation serving cancer patients into Rubber City Farm, a nearly 30,000-square-foot indoor farm in Akron’s historic BF Goodrich factories producing leafy greens and microgreens year-round. Its hydroponic, climate-controlled operation supplies locally grown produce harvested and delivered within 24 hours, while using less water and composting farm waste for community farms in Akron.
BrightFarmsFounded in 2011, BrightFarms grows leafy greens indoors in hydroponic greenhouses, bringing pesticide-free lettuce and spinach from regional farms to grocery stores in as little as a day. Its four greenhouse farms use controlled conditions, recirculated water and sunlight to produce fresh greens year-round while using less water than traditional field growing. The company’s regional footprint includes a 480,000-square-foot Illinois greenhouse producing about six million pounds annually.IRVINGTON, NY
District FarmsDistrict Farms grows leafy greens year-round in a high-tech, hydroponic greenhouse on a 40-acre site in Frederick, Maryland. Its indoor closed-loop system uses over 90% less water than conventional farming, while local distribution can put greens on tables the same day they are harvested. The locally owned farm grows without pesticides or herbicides and uses sensors to monitor growing conditions from seed through harvest.FREDERICK, MD
Gotham GreensFounded in Brooklyn in 2009, Gotham Greens grows leafy greens and herbs year-round in climate-controlled hydroponic greenhouses, then turns them into fresh salad kits, dressings, sauces and dips. Its rooftop and urban farms bring production close to major population centers, with the company’s network now spanning 1.8 million square feet across the country. Gotham Greens is also a Certified B Corporation and emphasizes reduced water use, shorter transportation distances and daily harvest-to-pack operations.BROOKLYN, NY
Element FarmsElement Farms grows tender, pesticide-free baby greens hydroponically in a glass greenhouse in Lafayette, New Jersey. Its controlled, technology-driven operation produces spinach consistently year-round, using the sun and recirculated water while delivering greens locally—often from farm to store in under 24 hours. The farm says it uses 90% less water than conventional farming and is non-GMO certified.