Giant to source produce from huge local greenhouse

New York-based BrightFarms Inc. has signed a partnership with Giant Food to supply produce grown at a 100,000-square-foot greenhouse near Giant’s store at 1535 Alabama Ave. SE.

The greenhouse is being constructed on District-owned land.

It will be “the largest urban greenhouse of its kind in the world,” BrightFarms said in a statement. Construction is expected to be completed by this fall.

The farm was first announced by the District last May. BrightFarms did not have a local grocery partner lined up at the time of last year’s announcement.

The project will create 20 full-time jobs and more than 100 construction jobs, BrightFarms said.

The farm will grow produce year round and deliver it to Giant stores throughout the Washington region.

Financial terms of the partnership with Giant weren’t disclosed.

The greenhouse is being built and operated by BrightFarms in partnership with the District’s Department of General Services and the Anacostia Economic Development Corp.

The location, at the corner of South Capitol Street and Southern Avenue in Ward 8, has been underutilized and plagued by illegal dumping, the District said in announcing the project last year.

Since 2011, BrightFarms has partnered with seven supermarket chains and has seven commercial-scale greenhouses in development. A greenhouse in Bucks County, Pa., is its first operational farm.

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