LUBBOCK, TX – Automation is helping greenhouse growers expand production of crops once considered difficult to move indoors. Cox Farms President Steve Bradley says newer systems are making lettuce and strawberries more practical at commercial scale while supporting year-round production closer to consumers.
The company operates more than 700 acres under glass across the United States and Canada. Its crop mix includes tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, and lettuce, with additional expansion planned across North America.
Seeds and growing media enter highly automated facilities where crops are planted, germinated, moved, and harvested with little human contact. Lettuce completes the production cycle in about 21 days while using natural light whenever possible.
Growing near population centers can shorten transportation distances and preserve shelf life for products that do not travel well. The system also allows crops to remain in production longer before harvest, potentially improving freshness and reducing shrink.
Bradley says lettuce and strawberries represent high-growth opportunities because technology has lowered production barriers. Producers will watch whether construction costs, energy use, labor savings, and local demand support continued greenhouse expansion.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Automation is making greenhouse production more practical for perishable crops near major consumer markets.