Our Greens
Interesting facts and details…
- All of our lettuce is grown in a temperature-controlled greenhouse eliminating the need for any harmful herbicides & pesticides
- It takes about 30-45 days, seed to container, for most of our lettuce, depending on time of year
- Our nutrients are all derived from natural sources and carefully monitored to ensure the most optimal nutrition possible. We evaluate our water through Clemson University Agriculture Department and adjust accordingly.
- Ladybugs are released periodically to gobble up any lettuce-loving bugs, Aphids, that may have made their way into our greenhouse
- Our greenhouse is approximately 12,000 square feet in size and has 45,000 grow holes
- We balance water pH level, monitor temperature and also the rate of flow.
- All of our seeds are GMO & pesticide-free
- LED-supplemental lighting as well as air-flow fans are utilized to keep our red lettuces vibrant red in the winters and the humidity to an optimal level
- At any given time, we have 5 weeks worth of lettuce growing at one time, with careful rotation of harvesting and transplanting.
“Lett”uce tell you more……
- Due to the nature of the indoor growing process, there is no need to wash our lettuce prior to enjoying. Nothing touches it, not even rain water therefore it is as clean as it can be
- We limit tours (sorry!) to maintain the highest level of cleanliness possible.
- Many of our customers tell us that their children find our lettuce to be the only lettuce they’ll eat. Yeah!!!
- With the lettuce constantly being fed optimal nutrition, the taste can’t be beat. Nutrients give lettuce their “taste” which is why much of the main-stream lettuce found in grocery stores seems taste-less.
- Nutrients also serve as natural preservatives. Properly balanced nutrients gives our greens a longer refrigerator life. Most of our greens last 10+ days in your refrigerator.
- What then is the downside to hydroponically-grown greens? If you ever have to go back to “mainstream lettuce”, that’s a tough transition. Our lettuce simply is, the way lettuce was intended to taste.
Circle A Lettuce is good for your heart
Circle A Lettuce is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, and vitamin C. In addition, our lettuce is a very good source of dietary fiber, molybdenum, manganese, potassium, and iron. It is also a good source of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and copper. Many of these compounds have anti-oxidant properties that help maintain proper health as well as prevent against many common diseases.
Regular consumption of lettuce in your daily diet is known to prevent osteoporosis, iron-deficiency anemia, and is believed to protect from cardiovascular diseases, age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease and many cancers.
Why is local so important?
To maintain a high-nutrient content in produce, it is best to eat fruits/vegetables shortly after harvesting. Once produce is cut, the nutrients start to diminish at a fairly fast rate. Much of the produce we purchase in stores is approximately 1-2 weeks old before we actually eat it. At this point, the nutrient content has been reduced significantly. Eating close to the source provides the highest nutrition level possible. We harvest our lettuce daily, arriving to your family table just 1-2 days before you eat it.
Eliminating Herbicides/Pesticides assures the cleanest lettuce possible.
Even though pesticides are present in foods at very small trace levels, their negative impact on health is well documented. The liver’s ability to process other toxins, the cells ability to produce energy, and the nerves’ ability to send messages can all be compromised by pesticide exposure. According to the Environmental Working Group’s 2012 report “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce,” lettuce is among the 12 foods on which pesticide residues have been most frequently found. Therefore, individuals wanting to avoid pesticide-associated health risks may want to avoid consumption of lettuce that has been treated with pesticides.
Why is growing indoors an optimal growing environment?
The primary source of E.coli is the presence of animals/livestock near growing crops. Growing lettuce inside our greenhouse allows us to virtually eliminate the exposure our lettuce may have to E.coli contamination. Additionally, rainwater can pull air pollution/toxins from the air down onto soil-grown crops. Eliminating rainwater from our equation contributes to the overall superior cleanliness of our lettuce.