Bright Farms wants to set up shop in western Northampton County could clear a big hurdle this week. The indoor company is eyeing two properties in East Allen Township. The township supervisors will consider a conditional use application from the company at a public hearing Thursday night.
Bright Farms wants to build four greenhouses totaling about 1.5 million square feet, as well as two head house structures totaling more than 318,000 square feet on farmland that is currently vacant at Arrowhead and Locust roads. The two adjacent parcels are made up of about 112 acres and owned by the Jaindl land development company.
At the public hearing, township supervisors will consider the conditional use application filed by NEPA Greenhouse, LCC, which is doing business as Bright Farms Greenhouses. The request is for "Controlled Environment Greenhouses" to be granted as a conditional use. The application was filed by Steve Platt, who was named the CEO of Bright Farms in 2019.
The indoor farms grow a variety of leafy greens. Some are packaged and sold as salad kits, such as the Chickpea Ceasar Crunch Kit, and the Bacon Ranch Kit. In the Lehigh Valley, that produce can be found at Giant and Wegmans grocery stores. Bright Farms currently operates six locations in six different states, including a farm in Selingsgrove in Snyder County, Pa. The company is touting future locations in three additional states: Illinois, Georgia, and Texas.
Source: 69 news