Vendor Spotlight Fresh 2o Growers

After gaining his chops in the greenhouse industry, and constructing regulated, climate-controlled chambers for others, Joe Van Wingerden decided to get his hands in the dirt. In 2012, he founded Fresh2o Growers, a family-owned greenhouse business that specializes in growing fresh, local hydroponic lettuce.

Located in Stevensburg, the 12-acre farm is home to hundreds of beds of lettuce including butter, oak, batavia, and a number of salad blends. 

“The most popular is our Green Butter Lettuce,” says Abby Newman, Sales Support for Fresh 2o Growers. “We pack our Butter Lettuce with the roots to get more nutrients and shelf life than cut lettuce.”

Utilizing a closed hydroponic system, Fresh 2o Growers uses 90% less water than traditional field farming and can grow over 3000% more per year in the same acreage than traditional field farming. They also have zero run-off and are herbicide- and pesticide-free.

“Fresh2o has been working with Cavalier Produce since 2016,” says Newman. “Over the past five years, Cavalier Produce has been a consistent customer of ours. Their weekly pickups have continued to grow by adding on multiple varieties.”