BrightFarms teams up with J&J Distributing to build greenhouse

BrightFarms Inc. is building a greenhouse in partnership with J&J Distributing in Saint Paul, Minn. BrightFarms finances, builds, and operates greenhouses, partnering with supermarkets and distribution centers to sell locally grown, sustainable produce. J&J Distributing supplies wholesale fruits and vegetables to retailers throughout the Twin Cities.

BrightFarms will build a 38,000-square-foot greenhouse on site at J&J, which will package and distribute a portion of the produce. The greenhouse will grow more than 350,000 pounds of local lettuces, tomatoes, and herbs per year. The company will create up to 6 full-time jobs and as many as 50 part-time jobs to construct the greenhouse.

J&J has received $500,000 from the Saint Paul Community Development Block Grant Recovery Act to build the greenhouse. The company also received city funds in the form of the State of Minnesota Jobs Bill Tax Increment Financing to expand its facility and make energy efficiency upgrades. The funds have enabled J&J to create 60 permanent jobs and 130 construction jobs.