A major producer of hydroponically grown produce is expanding in Madison County.
Salad Days Produce, which grows head lettuce in a water-based nutrient solution instead of soil, plans to create 12 new jobs at its Flora location with an $8.18 million investment.
A female-owned local business that specializes in growing pesticide-free produce, Salad Days Produce can serve restaurants and other food-service companies with a variety of lettuce year-round.
The operations expansion includes the addition of a new 65,000-square-foot temperature controlled-environment agriculture facility in Flora Industrial Park to the company’s current 21,000-square-foot facility in the same city.
Salad Days Produce will be able to serve larger grocery chains and regional produce distributors by increasing its current production capacity by a factor of eight.
“This new state-of-the-art facility will solve the capacity issue we’ve had,” Salad Days President Leigh Bailey said.
“We will now be able to meet the volume demands of both our existing clients and clients that have been on the waiting list, in some cases for years. It’s the preferred brand for some of the Deep South’s best restaurants and most celebrated chefs.”
Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive program. Madison County also is assisting with the project.
“Salad Days Produce’s investment continues the positive Mississippi momentum that is taking place throughout our state,” Governor Tate Reeves said. “Every job created and every dollar invested by companies like Salad Days Produce speak to our pro-business mindset and the fact that we truly are one of the best states for business. It’s another great day for our state”
The company expects to complete the expansion in July 2025.
