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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowNew York-based BrightFarms Inc. plans to build a 100,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse on a vacant parcel of land on the near-west side of Indianapolis, city officials announced Sunday.
The nearly 5-acre plot of land at 2219 W. Michigan St. in the Haughville neighborhood has been vacant since 1996. About 25 employees are expected to work at the greenhouse when it opens in 2014.
BrightFarms, founded in 2007, operates a commercial greenhouse near Philadelphia and has development plans in the works for at least nine more greenhouses in several cities in the East and Midwest.
Most of the greenhouses will be 100,000 square feet, cost $4 million to build, and be capable of producing 1 million pounds of tomatoes and lettuce annually.
BrightFarms plans to sign agreements with retailers near each greenhouse so the produce can be picked fresh and delivered to market the same day.
The Indianapolis site is a brownfield owned by Westside Community Development Corp., which is working with BrightFarms on the project.
Company, city and state officials plan to formerly kick off the project with a public announcement at the Indianapolis City Market at 3 p.m. Monday.
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