Lightfoot to serve as a voice for rapidly growing local, indoor leafy greens industry
Irvington, N.Y. – July 16, 2020 – BrightFarms is happy to announce that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has appointed Paul Lightfoot, company President & Founder, to the USDA’s Fruit & Vegetable Advisory Committee (FVIAC).
The FVIAC advises the Secretary of Agriculture on issues affecting the fruit and vegetable industry. Its membership is comprised of key leaders from the produce industry, including growers, shippers, retailers and processors.
Lightfoot is the first representative from the rapidly growing local, indoor leafy greens industry to join the committee. His two-year term begins immediately. “I am pleased to join the FVIAC and to advise Secretary Perdue on matters related to the fruit and vegetable industry.” said Lightfoot. “Safe, sustainable and nutritious fruits and vegetables are critical to our nation. I look forward to working with other members on important issues like supply chain resilience, climate change and food safety.”
A healthy and sustainable food zealot, Lightfoot leads BrightFarms on its mission to provide supermarkets with the freshest, tastiest and most responsibly grown local produce. Through his vision, BrightFarms has created the first national brand of locally grown produce.
In addition to FVIAC, Lightfoot also sits on the board of the United Fresh Produce Association and is the Founder & Chairman of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Food Safety Coalition.
For more information about BrightFarms, visit www.brightfarms.com.
About BrightFarms
BrightFarms grows local produce, nationwide. BrightFarms finances, builds and operates local greenhouse farms in partnership with supermarkets, cities, capital sources and vendors, enabling it to quickly and efficiently eliminate time, distance and costs from the food supply chain. BrightFarms’ growing methods, a model for the future of scalable, sustainable local farming, use far less energy, land and water than long distance, centralized and field grown agriculture. Fast Company recognizes BrightFarms as “One of World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies” and one of the “Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Food” in the world. For more information, please visit www.brightfarms.com.