While the Lone Star State is as varied as it is sprawling, Texas markets have recently enjoyed one surge after another, with its economy rivaling that of a small country and giving credence to the state’s bold claim that it’s “bigger than France.”
While the Lone Star State is as varied as it is sprawling, Texas markets have recently enjoyed one surge after another, with its economy rivaling that of a small country and giving credence to the state’s bold claim that it’s “bigger than France.”
“The Texas landscape continues to change for fresh produce. The state is growing the population at roughly 850 people per day, and we’re seeing more [controlled environment agriculture] firms establish themselves in Texas to better serve the local and regional marketplace,” Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, told The Packer.
Over the last decade, Texas added more people than any other state in the U.S., whether through migration or birth, according to the Texas Demographic Center. City centers such as Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas are booming, with steady growth in population as well as business.
Take a step back and it’s easy to see why. Situated at the gateway to the Southwest, sharing a border with Mexico and boasting thriving ports, the expansive state offers a wealth of possibility for food and ag entrepreneurs.
“The combination of domestic and international production has made Texas a critical year-round loading point,” Galeazzi said. “If retailers or foodservice buyers want a better sense of how all of these factors come together to benefit their companies, then they really need to get over to Viva Fresh to experience firsthand what I’m talking about.”
The Viva Fresh Expo is an annual showcase of produce grown in the Southwest, and this year’s conference is happening in Grapevine, Texas from March 30 to April 1, 2023. This year’s conference will exhibit an increasing number of growers, produce leaders and ag entrepreneurs, as more businesses move to the state.
Katie Seawell, chief commercial officer at Bowery, cites Texas’ location as a key step in its strategic growth, building an expansive farm network across the U.S.
“The addition of Bowery’s Arlington farm to our network is a critical next chapter in our growth,” Seawell told The Packer. “Our goal is to have a network of farms across the country and ultimately the world. Texas is an important market, and we are very excited to launch our Arlington farm later this year.”
The new Arlington farm will not only enable Bowery to meet “explosive consumer demand” for produce in the region.
“By opening a smart indoor farm in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area, a rapidly growing technology and manufacturing hub, Bowery will create more than 100 year-round green jobs and reach between 15 [million] to 20 million consumers,” Seawell said.
Indoor lettuce grower Revol Greens is following suit, opening a 20-acre protected greenhouse facility in Temple, Texas, this year, just a short drive from Austin in Central Texas. Revol Greens anticipates growing upward of 17 million pounds of greens annually at the new facility after a second building phase is complete.
“Our greenhouse located in Temple, Texas, is strategically chosen for its central location to Texas’ largest metropolitan areas and its proximity to our customer distribution networks,” CEO Michael Wainscott told The Packer.
Not only will Revol Greens’ fourth greenhouse facility in Texas amount to its largest and most technologically advanced grow site to date, but it’s also slated to be the largest single lettuce facility in the U.S., Wainscott said.
“Our high-tech greenhouses require a significant amount of skilled labor to support the technology side of our business, and the workforce in Texas continues to grow on that front,” he said. “Additionally, as a produce hub and distribution point for many products, Texas was a key target for us to better serve our customers.”
Beyond Central Texas’ booming tech industry, workforce and strategic location, Wainscott said growing lettuce under the big Texas sun was ideal for Revol Greens.
“Our greenhouses leverage as much natural sun as possible, and we grow 365 days a year using supplemental light only when necessary, so consistent sunlight is critical in growing efficiently and sustainably,” he said.
