Meijer Partners With Revolution Farms to Offer Year-Round Greens

Meijer is bringing local lettuce and salad greens to consumers year-round following a partnership with Revolution Farms, a hydroponic lettuce farm based in Caledonia, Mich., the Midwest grocer announced May 19.

Across the retailer's six-state footprint, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer, which recently donated $2 million to Feeding America West Michigan, said Revolution Farms' hydroponic-grown products include cut, whole leaf and whole head lettuce varieties, as well as the cut lettuce for all of the retailer's fresh, ready-to-eat salads. The products will be available in all 262 Meijer stores, the grocer said.

Grown using 90% less water, 90% less land and 95% closer to their homes, Meijer said families will have direct access to lettuce and salad greens that are fresher, more nutritious and last longer.

"Supporting local farms and carrying the freshest, most nutritious ingredients is important to us and to our customers," Sarah Jennings, Meijer produce buyer, said in a statement. "As a Michigan, family company, we are committed to being good stewards of our community by not only constantly enhancing our own sustainable practices, but also by using our shelves as a platform to promote brands that share our passion."

Revolution Farms can grow up to 1.5 million pounds of fresh lettuce each year. Looking to disrupt the fresh produce industry by growing and harvesting hyperlocal salad greens for consumers year-round, using advanced indoor farming methods, Meijer and Revolution Farms are also partnering to localize and enhance the Fresh From Meijer salad kits, available in the retailer's ready-to-eat section, Meijer said in a statement.

“Food tastes better when it's grown closer to you,” John Green, founder and CEO of Revolution Farms, said in a statement.Meijer is our hometown retail partner, so partnering with them to expand their local greens selection, as well as growing the lettuce for their salad kits, will help more families easily find sustainably grown, nutrient-rich greens. Our recent greenhouse expansion has given us the ability to grow even more lettuce varieties, as well as become a Meijer Fresh partner."

Revolution Farms distributes its non-GMO lettuce to Meijer within one or two days of harvest, ensuring its customers receive crispier, crunchier lettuce for more flavorful salads, the grocer said in a statement. “Harvesting daily ensures the longest possible shelf life and near-to-zero waste for today's budget- and environmentally-conscious kitchens,” Meijer said.

Meijer said customers can find the three new Revolution Farms branded products—Revolution Farms Lettuce Boats, Revolution Farms Whole Leaf Romaine, and Revolution Farms Sweet Crisp Deli Leaf—on shelves as well as the following whole head items, Revolution Farms Whole Head Living Bibb and Revolution Farms Whole Head Living Sweet Crisp.