Produce Grower magazine

Produce Grower magazine Serving vegetable and fruit greenhouse operations of North America. Subscribe for free at producegrower.com. Published by GIE Media.

Vertical farming company AeroFarms has announced its closure following the withdrawal of the company's largest investor....
12/18/2025

Vertical farming company AeroFarms has announced its closure following the withdrawal of the company's largest investor.

AeroFarms informed Virginia Works Department of Workforce Development and Advancement in a Dec. 11 letter that the company has “made the difficult decision to wind down all of their operations” and close its facility in Ringgold, Virginia.

The closure, announced as part of the company’s required Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice, includes the permanent termination of 173 employees, including remote workers, with 127 total employees being Virginia residents. The closure of facilities and permanent termination of affected employees is expected to take place on Dec. 19.

Read the full story here:

https://www.producegrower.com/article/aerofarms-vertical-farm-closes-announcement/

"What if the fulfilling work life you’ve been searching for is within plain sight, in the everyday moments you typically...
12/16/2025

"What if the fulfilling work life you’ve been searching for is within plain sight, in the everyday moments you typically overlook?" writes Rev. Dr. Robert Turner, a speaker and consultant who helps clients pivot to a mindset of clarity and confidence.

"By intentionally recognizing the good, you open yourself to more positive experiences, creating a cascading benefit for your career, as well as for those who work around you. This isn’t just a transient burst of optimism; it’s a conscious decision to integrate a constructive mindset into every aspect of your profession.

"The question then becomes: How can you develop effective strategies to not only move beyond workplace challenges, but also to consistently cultivate and sustain an active sense of gratitude and appreciation?"

🌱 Check out the rest of the article for Turner's tips on gratitude and optimism in the workplace:

https://www.producegrower.com/article/gratitude-practices-business-management-controlled-environment-agriculture/

The FDA’s Produce Safety Rule, enacted under the Food Safety Modernization Act, establishes science-based minimum standa...
12/11/2025

The FDA’s Produce Safety Rule, enacted under the Food Safety Modernization Act, establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fruits and vegetables intended for human consumption.

Its primary goal is to prevent microbial contamination and reduce foodborne illnesses associated with produce, especially those commonly consumed raw.

As part of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Herb Extension and Research Base project, a team at Texas Tech University Department of Animal & Food Sciences has been focusing on advancing food safety practices in controlled environment agriculture.

Find out their best practices in CEA for the new FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule:

https://www.producegrower.com/article/fda-food-safety-modernization-act-controlled-environment-agriculture-cea-herb-research-texas-tech/

The International Fresh Produce Association surveyed more than 700 U.S. citizens about their perceptions of the produce ...
12/09/2025

The International Fresh Produce Association surveyed more than 700 U.S. citizens about their perceptions of the produce industry, from wages to important responsibilities.

Here are a few key insights from the report:

🍅 70% of respondents say they view produce growers very favorably.
📈 45% see the industry as positively improving.
💵 72% see affordability as the most important industry value.

Dig into more highlights from the report here:

https://www.producegrower.com/article/consumer-trust-produce-growers-international-fresh-produce-association-survey/

🌱 While technical and economic factors will moderate the pace of change, AI and advanced robotics are expected to influe...
12/04/2025

🌱 While technical and economic factors will moderate the pace of change, AI and advanced robotics are expected to influence nearly every aspect of CEA operations. The Resource Innovation Institute assembled the AI & Advanced Robotics Working Group (AIRWG) to assess their current state and forecast their development.

Here are 5 predictions about how the industry will be impacted:

🤖 Production efficiency and crop yields will increase, with some hopeful expectations for profits, too.
🤖 Breeding will make automation possible, just as it has done in other areas of horticulture.
🤖 CEA operations will require more technology infrastructure.
🤖 Resource efficiency will improve.
🤖 Data management and security will become significant responsibilities.

Find out more details and 5 more predictions here:

https://www.producegrower.com/article/ai-advanced-robotics-controlled-environment-agriculture-predictions/

🌱 Following a successful year of indoor farming conferences, Eric Stein, executive director at Center of Excellence for ...
12/02/2025

🌱 Following a successful year of indoor farming conferences, Eric Stein, executive director at Center of Excellence for Indoor Agriculture, examines the pros and cons of transactional and transformative leadership.

"Each year, I go to two or more conferences on indoor farming, which provides an opportunity to see the latest and greatest technologies up close and interact with vendors," he writes.

"Although a small sample, what struck me most about each of these leaders was how down-to-earth they are, how open, how willing they are to share their knowledge about what worked and what didn’t. I also learned how passionate they are about making both greenhouses and vertical farms successful, despite setbacks in recent years."

The question is: What does it take to be an effective leader of an indoor farm?

Read Eric's full Vertical Thinking column here:

https://www.producegrower.com/article/leadership-styles-indoor-farming-controlled-environment-agriculture-vertical-thinking/

Survey after survey continues to indicate the consumer’s desire for more sustainable packaging, whether that means mater...
11/25/2025

Survey after survey continues to indicate the consumer’s desire for more sustainable packaging, whether that means material made from recycled plastic or alternative material innovations. Growers and retailers share the same inclination.

But there’s a gap between behavior and intention. While many consumers express concern about plastic packaging or say they avoid it, actual purchasing behavior differs, especially when weighed against convenience and cost.

Despite the fickle consumer behavior, several universities — including School of Packaging - MSU, Clemson University's College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment and Virginia Tech Department of Food Science and Technology — are making major investments in developing sustainable packaging for myriad consumer goods, including material that is applicable for fresh produce.

♻ Read our latest cover story to learn more:

https://www.producegrower.com/article/sustainable-single-use-plastic-packaging-research-controlled-environment-agriculture/

There’s an obstacle that gets in the way of innovation: risk.In controlled environment agriculture, that risk is magnifi...
11/20/2025

There’s an obstacle that gets in the way of innovation: risk.

In controlled environment agriculture, that risk is magnified. The wrong technology choice doesn’t just mean lost time; it can mean lost seasons, damaged relationships with buyers or worse.

Growers are navigating risk from greenhouse to shelf. Yet too often, they wait for someone else to go first. This isn’t condemning caution. In an industry where calculated decisions mean survival, caution makes sense. But recognizing when necessary caution becomes paralysis is equally important.

Read more from Peyton Merriam of Verdant Technologies on rethinking risk and innovation in CEA:

https://www.producegrower.com/article/controlled-environment-agriculture-risk-cea-business-management/

Indoor Ag-Con has released its 2026 conference program featuring a new lineup of nine crop and sector tracks.Returning t...
11/18/2025

Indoor Ag-Con has released its 2026 conference program featuring a new lineup of nine crop and sector tracks.

Returning to the Westgate Las Vegas on Feb. 11 and 12, the 13th annual edition of Indoor Ag-Con will bring together growers, business leaders, suppliers, policymakers, academics, researchers and other industry members from around the globe to explore the latest trends, technologies and opportunities shaping the future of CEA.

🌱 Find out the full list of program tracks here:

https://www.producegrower.com/news/indoor-ag-con-2026-conference-program-las-vegas-crop-tracks/

Vertical farming — the practice of growing crops in stacked layers within controlled indoor environments — represents on...
11/13/2025

Vertical farming — the practice of growing crops in stacked layers within controlled indoor environments — represents one of the most promising innovations in modern agriculture.

Our Vertical Thinking columnist Eric W. Stein shares how product operations management helps vertical farming enterprises improve efficiency, quality and scalability. Key focuses include:

🌿 Production planning and scheduling
🌿 Resource management
🌿 Workflow optimization
🌿 Quality control and food safety
🌿 Technology integration
🌿 Supply chain and distribution

Read all of Eric's insights here:

https://www.producegrower.com/article/vertical-farming-column-business-ideas-eric-stein/

Looking to expand your business with greenhouse farming — or curious if small-scale leafy greens could be profitable in ...
11/10/2025

Looking to expand your business with greenhouse farming — or curious if small-scale leafy greens could be profitable in your market?

In this replay of our live event, "Green & Profitable: A Real-World Case Study in Hyperlocal Lettuce Farming," brought to you by Ceres Greenhouse Solutions, Rob Lyle of Greenshaus Inc. shares how he built a profitable, year-round, small-scale lettuce farm to meet local market demand.

Watch the replay — moderated by GIE Media Horticulture Group Editorial Director Kelli Rodda and featuring Lyle and Josh Holleb of Ceres Greenhouse Solutions — to find out how to turn lettuce into profit:

https://www.producegrower.com/media/greenshaus-ceres-greenhouse-solutions-local-lettuce-farm-year-round-leafy-greens/

AmericanHort President & CEO Ken Fisher has announced his plan to step aside at the end of May 2026, marking 10 years of...
11/07/2025

AmericanHort President & CEO Ken Fisher has announced his plan to step aside at the end of May 2026, marking 10 years of leadership at the national trade association that represents the U.S. horticulture industry.

The AmericanHort Board of Directors will immediately begin the process of planning for the CEO transition and the selection of the next leader.

Read the full story here:

https://www.producegrower.com/news/american-hort-president-ceo-ken-fisher-steps-down/

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Produce Grower Magazine

Produce Grower is a business management and production publication for growers that specialize in growing vegetable and fruit crops in a protected environment. Produce Grower provides readers with the most relevant and up-to-date information, including topics such as pests and diseases, food safety, marketing and management, new varieties, production and others, to run their growing operation more efficiently and profitably.