Neon Greens

This interview details Neon Greens, a radically fresh produce company crafting made-to-order salads with fresh-cut greens based in the United States. The interview is with Josh Smith, Owner of Neon Greens.

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What is the origin story of Neon Greens?

The idea for Neon Greens was born when owner Josh Smith began growing his own lettuce during the pandemic. He started with a small hydroponic growing kit and eventually purchased industrial farming equipment to set up a grow house with 100+ plants, growing everything from kale and lettuce to cucumbers and peppers. After quickly discovering the superior taste of fresh, homegrown produce, Josh came up with the idea for Neon Greens as a way to provide others with the freshest salads possible. 

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What are some of the biggest challenges facing Neon Greens in the future? 

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Like many start-ups, prioritizing growth and maintaining quality are tricky when scaling. We’re at the outset of our first location, and are being very mindful in setting up systems and practices that ensure we’re providing the best lettuce and salads possible at scale.

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‍What is unique about Neon Greens compared to competitors?

Unlike most other salad chains that source produce from farms hundreds of miles away, Neon Greens will grow six acres of produce on-site. All salads will be crafted with cut-to-order greens, introducing guests to a new definition of how delicious produce can be.

We’re vertically integrated. And by investing in growing our own greens, we’re able to spend the savings and resources in sourcing local seasonal produce. Our model takes a three prong-ed approach to bringing farm-to-table to fast casual.‍

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What is the current size of your growing area? ‍

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We grow around 6 acres of produce in 800 square feet.‍

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Do you use CO2 in your operation today -- if so, how much and what do you pay for it? What are your thoughts in CO2 usage in indoor farms? 

We do use CO2 in our operation. Funnily enough, because of the confined farm space, when we work – we generate enough CO2 to significantly offset the need during the ‘nighttime’ cycle. I’m excited by some of the sustainable CO2 technologies recently hitting the market. I hope they become more accessible for smaller scale operations as time goes on.

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Energy is a big topic in indoor farming right now. How much do you pay for electricity (kWh)? Is it mainly from the grid or renewables?

We are running off of the grid currently, with plans to move to renewables. Our local rate is approx. $.089/kwh.‍

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How can people connect with you or learn more about Neon Greens?

To learn more about Neon Greens, visit our Instagram page @neongreensstl for additional information and updates. For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact mary@jasperpaulpr.com.

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