Controlled Environment Agriculture

Little Leaf Farms Expands Pennsylvania Operations, Becoming the World’s Largest CEA Leafy Greens Producer

Little Leaf Farms has opened a new greenhouse at its McAdoo, Pennsylvania campus, marking the company’s fourth facility on-site.
Little Leaf Farms Becomes the World’s Largest CEA Leafy Greens Producer with Expansion of Pennsylvania Campus. Image provided by Little Leaf Farms.

Key Takeaways

  • Little Leaf Farms has opened a new greenhouse at its McAdoo, Pennsylvania campus, marking the company’s fourth facility on-site.
  • The 40-acre McAdoo campus is now the largest CEA leafy greens facility in the world.
  • Expansion supports growing demand for Romaine Leaf lettuce, which has doubled in national distribution since its July launch.
  • The company now supplies over 8,000 grocery stores across North America.
  • A new campus in Manchester, Tennessee, set to open in Fall 2026, will extend distribution across the Midwest, Southeast, and Texas.

Little Leaf Farms Expands McAdoo Campus to 40 Acres

Little Leaf Farms, the leading U.S. producer of packaged lettuce grown through controlled environment agriculture (CEA), has announced the completion of a new greenhouse at its McAdoo, Pennsylvania campus. The addition makes McAdoo the largest CEA leafy greens facility in the world, reinforcing the company’s leadership in sustainable, high-quality lettuce production.

Now spanning 40 acres, the expanded campus supports Little Leaf Farms’ continued growth into new regions, including the Southeast, Midwest, and Canada. The company’s greens are currently available in more than 8,000 grocery stores, reflecting its rapid growth as both the top CEA produce brand and the fastest-growing packaged salad brand in the United States—across both indoor and field-grown categories.


A Decade of Growth in Controlled Environment Agriculture

2025 marks a decade of transformation and growth for Little Leaf Farms,” said Paul Sellew, Founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms. “When we started 10 years ago, controlled environment agriculture for leafy greens was virtually nonexistent in the U.S. Today, Little Leaf Farms has expanded what is possible in CEA, reshaping retailer assortments and consumer perceptions and pushing the packaged salad industry into a new era of variety and quality.”

The McAdoo expansion reflects the company’s continued investment in advanced greenhouse systems that combine hydroponic growing methods with renewable energy and water recycling technologies. These innovations allow Little Leaf Farms to produce fresh, pesticide-free lettuce year-round while minimizing environmental impact.


Supporting Demand for Romaine Leaf Innovation

The expansion will help meet rising consumer demand for Little Leaf Farms’ Romaine Leaf lettuce, introduced in July 2025. Distribution for this product has already doubled nationally, establishing a new standard for greenhouse-grown romaine.

The company is currently the only greenhouse grower in the world producing “teen” leaf romaine — a variety that retains the size and texture of traditional field-grown romaine while offering the crispness and freshness associated with CEA-grown lettuce.

This innovation has helped Little Leaf Farms diversify its portfolio and strengthen its position as a key player in the growing U.S. packaged salad market.


Future Growth: Tennessee Expansion Planned for 2026

Looking ahead, Little Leaf Farms is developing a new campus in Manchester, Tennessee, scheduled to be fully operational by Fall 2026. The facility will extend the company’s production and distribution network into the Midwest, Southeast, and Texas, ensuring consistent supply and freshness for a broader consumer base.

By expanding strategically across multiple regions, Little Leaf Farms aims to increase accessibility to sustainably grown greens while reducing transportation distances and enhancing product freshness.

Little Leaf Farms

Little Leaf Farms is the leading U.S. brand of packaged lettuce grown using controlled environment agriculture. The company specializes in peri-urban farming, offering a modern approach to sustainable food production.

Utilizing advanced greenhouse technologies, Little Leaf Farms grows baby greens year-round with captured rainwater, natural sunlight, and solar-powered hydroponics. The lettuce is pesticide-free, untouched by human hands, and harvested at peak freshness.

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