Three industry problems affecting the cost of your leafy greens

Added on 10 June 2022

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Three industry problems affecting the cost of your leafy greens

Of the 18 to 21 total cups of vegetables that the USDA recommends you eat in a week, at least 1˝ to 2 cups should consist of dark leafy greens.

We all know that eating leafy vegetables is vital to a healthy, balanced diet. Greens are packed with nutrition - rich in vitamins A, C, E, and K, alongside containing high levels of fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium - all at the cost of minimal carbohydrates, sodium, and cholesterol.

But, what we know very little about is the production side of the equation.

Leafy greens have long dominated the controlled environment agriculture market because of their quick grow cycles and increased yields.

As proof of this, in our 2021 Global CEA Census, we found that the most significant percentage of respondents (CEA growers) grow leafy greens - 58% reported growing salad greens like lettuce and arugula, while 40% reported growing other leafy greens like chard, kale, and cabbage.

Additionally, because of their popularity as a beginner crop, 17% of growers consider growing leafy greens in the next 12 months.

DOWNLOAD THE 2021 GLOBAL CEA CENSUS TODAY!

Eden Green's research indicates that vertical farms produce more than 35x times as many leafy greens as traditional soil-based farms. While traditional farming methods can produce about 40 lbs of lettuce per 100 square feet of planting space, vertical farming can produce ~1500 lbs of leafy greens in the same amount of space based on standard row plantings.