“We’re committed to providing consumers with food that’s both good for the plate and good for the planet,” he said.

This focus on sustainability is at the core of Little Leaf’s business practices. Hill said that every step of Little Leaf’s growing process, from the seeds they plant to the packages customers buy, was designed to have as minimal impact on the planet as possible. Furthermore, the company employs solar power and utilizes captured and treated rainwater to nurture its crops.

“We also ensure that our leafy greens are never touched by human hands, from seedling to harvest to packaging,” said Hill. “And they are grown without the use of harmful chemical pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, meaning a consumer does not have to wash them before enjoying them.”

So, does that mean Little Leaf’s products are organic?

“Our lettuce is not certified organic, but we adhere to growing practices that ensure our lettuce is on par with, or even beyond, the quality of organic greens,” said Hill.

He added that Little Leaf lettuces are delivered from its greenhouses to grocery store shelves within 24 hours of harvest 365 days per year. This, combined with its other sustainable growing practices, results in fresh, flavorful leafy greens that remain crispy even days after purchase.

“Our fans agree,” he said. “We’ve received hundreds of positive emails and voicemails from them about how our leafy greens have changed the way they think about lettuce.”

Hill said Little Leaf has grown significantly since its founding a decade ago. What started as a single greenhouse in Massachusetts has expanded to four 10-acre hydroponic greenhouses between Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

“As our business has scaled, we’ve remained on the cutting-edge of technology, continuously innovating to maintain an efficient growing process, from seeding to harvest to packaging,” said Hill. “We’ve grown our lettuce portfolio in the last 10 years as well, bringing new varieties like Sweet Baby Butter Leaf and our Sweet & Crispy Blend to shelves, as well as a new line of convenient salad kits.”

Little Leaf will be a first-time exhibitor at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, set to take place Oct. 16-19 in Atlanta, and Hill said the company is looking forward to having a presence at North America’s largest produce convention.

“The event comes just in time as we prepare to launch our Sweet & Crispy Blend, as well as our newest salad kit, Sesame Ginger,” said Hill. “Sweet & Crispy combines our signature Baby Crispy Green Leaf and recently added Sweet Baby Butter Leaf lettuce varieties for a delightful blend of crispy and buttery textures with a touch of sweetness. Our new Sesame Ginger Salad Kit, the third flavor in our popular line – pairs Baby Crispy Green Leaf with Thai seasoned wonton strips, sliced almonds, toasted quinoa and sesame ginger dressing, delivering a convenient, fresh, flavor-packed meal ready to be enjoyed anytime. Sesame Ginger is also our first dairy-free salad kit offering, which our fans have been eager for since our initial launch of the line.”

He added that while Little Leaf will not be offering sampling at this year’s convention, company officials will be on hand with plenty of information on the newest additions as well as the current offerings.

Regarding the location of the show in Atlanta, Hill said it offers Little Leaf a good opportunity to extend its reach.

“Our mission is to bring fresh, delicious leafy greens to all,” said Hill. “Our greenhouses in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have enabled our expansion to the Southeast and Midwest regions. We recently announced a third greenhouse that will open on our Pennsylvania campus this fall, which will support expansion in these regions and increase our retail presence to over 7,000 grocery stores. The Southeast will remain a focus for our business in the near future, and our participation in this year’s event offers us an opportunity to share more about Little Leaf Farms in an area we’re excited to bring our leafy greens to.”