One Mississippi hydroponic farm is growing more than lettuce — the company is expanding operations with new jobs and an $8.18 million investment.

Salad Days Produce, a woman-owned, hydroponic farming business based in Flora, Mississippi, is expanding its operations in Madison County and is expected to create at least 12 new jobs and significantly increase the company’s production capacity.

The project includes the construction of a new 65,000-square-foot Controlled-Environment Agriculture (CEA) facility in Flora Industrial Park, adding to Salad Days’ existing 21,000-square-foot operation. This state-of-the-art facility will boost the company’s production capacity by eight times, enabling it to serve larger grocery chains and regional produce distributors.

Salad Days Produce is known for its pesticide-free, hydroponically grown lettuce, which it supplies to restaurants and food service providers year-round. The new facility, slated for completion in July 2025, will help meet growing demand from retailers and restaurants in the region.

Governor Tate Reeves praised the expansion, saying, “Salad Days Produce’s investment continues the positive Mississippi momentum that is taking place throughout our state. Every job created and every dollar invested by companies like Salad Days Produce speak to our pro-business mindset.”

Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Executive Director Bill Cork added, “We are glad to add Salad Days Produce to our impressive list of recent expansion projects. This growth benefits the regional food-service market by enabling more retailers and restaurants to gain access to this high-quality Mississippi-grown product.”

Leigh Bailey, President of Salad Days Produce, expressed excitement about the project, stating, “This new state-of-the-art facility will solve the capacity issue we’ve had. We will now be able to meet the volume demands of both our existing clients and clients that have been on the waiting list for years.”

The Mississippi Development Authority and Madison County are both providing assistance for the project.