Great Lakes Growers has begun harvesting lettuce from its latest greenhouse expansion in Burton, Ohio. Owner John Bonner told HortiDaily in an interview published on 13 October that the first harvest had taken place around two weeks earlier. He said the new greenhouse’s output was already sold out when it opened.
The first commercial crop marks a new stage for the Ohio hydroponic grower, which serves retail and foodservice customers with leafy greens and herbs. It is the company’s sixth greenhouse expansion.
New growing space enters production
Greenhouse contractor Prins USA describes the completed addition as roughly one acre, equipped with a GreenV Leafy Greens System. Project partner Stolze also documents the 2026 extension and its lighting installation at the Burton site.
Prins Group supplied the greenhouse structure and Prins USA erected it. HT Verboom worked on the growing system, while Stolze supplied lighting components, coordinating with Signify and Priva North America. These systems support year-round hydroponic lettuce production.
Investment and possible next expansion
In June, the company outlined plans for an approximately US$5 million investment and about 50,000 sq ft of new greenhouse space, according to an earlier report. Those were announced project plans; a final investment total has not been disclosed in the October interview.
Bonner said demand for locally grown greenhouse lettuce has remained strong, with enquiries from buyers considering alternatives to field-grown produce. He also discussed a possible further expansion in 2027, but no construction start date has been set. The company has already installed infrastructure for additional greenhouse buildings, including gas, heating and water systems, he said.
For the market, the key change is operational rather than prospective: additional growing space is now producing a commercial crop, and its operator reports that customers were in place at start-up.
Key takeaways
- Great Lakes Growers has harvested its first lettuce crop from the company’s sixth greenhouse expansion in Burton, Ohio.
- Project partners describe roughly one acre of added growing space with integrated crop-handling and lighting systems.
- The operator reports strong initial demand and is considering another expansion, without a confirmed start date.
