Macon Magazine

How BrightFarms is redefining fresh greens in Macon with the largest and most advanced greenhouse in the state. H ow many times have you opened your refrigerator drawer to find a bag of leafy greens past its prime? Maybe you forgot about it. Maybe life got busy. Either way, it ends up in the trash. If that lettuce was not grown nearby, it likely had a long journey before it ever reached your kitchen. It may have been grown in another state, harvested days earlier, stored in a warehouse, and shipped hundreds of miles before landing in the produce section of your grocery store. When it comes to leafy greens, time matters. Inside the BrightFarms greenhouse in South Bibb, that clock starts much closer to home. In the largest and most advanced leafy greens greenhouse in the state, rows of greens grow right here in Macon under carefully controlled light and temperature, protected from drought, heavy rain, and unpredictable weather. This version of farming is built to create the right environment for plants year-round, using technology to manage the conditions they need to thrive. "This is advanced greenhouse farming," said Steve Bradley, CEO of Cox Farms, a division of Cox Enterprises and the largest greenhouse operator in the United States. "We grow in a contained environment where we can control temperature, humidity, light, and even CO₂ levels, giving plants what they need to be healthy and successful." Instead of growing in soil, crops are raised in nutrient-rich media that allows unused water and vitamins to be reclaimed rather than lost to runoff. "The only water we use is what the plant breathes out and what's lost through the biomass," Bradley said. "You're not losing all this water in runoff, and the nutrients aren't leaching into the soil." For Cox Farms and BrightFarms, this approach reflects a broader shift in how food can be grown in a changing world. "We wanted to grow and diversify into businesses that reflected the values and passion of the Cox family," Bradley said. "This one became a no-brainer because it's resource efficient and allows us to have a positive impact by feeding people more fresh fruits and vegetables that are clean, fresh, and last longer." That vision took root locally last June, when BrightFarms opened its 480,000-square-foot Macon greenhouse facility, bringing this modern approach to agriculture to Middle Georgia. The greenhouse allows for the production of about 6 million pounds of greens each year. "This was Cox Farms' first facility in Georgia, and by growing BrightFarms leafy greens, it plays a key role in meeting the region's rising demand for indoor- grown greens," said BrightFarms General Manager Bernard Davis. "Its location allows us to respond quickly and deliver fresh produce to retailers in as little as 24 hours." Choosing Macon Proximity and location were crucial factors for Cox Farms, with headquarters based in Atlanta, when deciding where to build its next greenhouse. With existing facilities in Texas, Virginia, Illinois, and New Hampshire, the company turned its attention to the Southeast. "It was important for Cox to have something in Georgia since it has been here since the 1920s," Bradley said. "We also wanted to have something anchored to where our employee base is and where our headquarters is in the state." STORY BY EDNA RUIZ ADAMS | PHOTOS BY MATT ODOM February/March 2026 | maconmagazine.com 53

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