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Fast Company
a day ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Fresh, local, and predictable: How 'indoor' farms are solving food's biggest problems
Inside an eight-acre greenhouse on the outskirts of Macon, Georgia, more than eight million pounds of lettuce are harvested annually, untouched by external weather conditions, pesticides, or even human hands. The produce picked and packaged here is then shipped directly to regional retailers and food banks, skipping multiple links in the typical salad's supply chain. This facility joins a network of a half-dozen other greenhouses strategically placed around the country by BrightFarms, a pioneer in 'controlled environment agriculture.' Together, they offer a blueprint for a more resilient, nutritious, and delicious food chain that looks more like just-in-time manufacturing than traditional farming. That's because the average American's food pyramid has never felt more wobbly. Farmers lost $20.3 billion to weather disasters last year, nearly half of which was uninsured. With fresh produce concentrated in California and buttressed by foreign imports during the winters, the nation's stomach travels on long-haul trucks consuming fuel, belching emissions, and stretching the time between harvest and consumption, which in turn leads to lettuce with a shorter shelf life. BrightFarms' localized greenhouses, once dismissed as a niche product for affluent urbanites, have spent the past decade refining their techniques and scaling production to close the cost gap with conventional farming. Now they're starting to pull ahead. 'Indoor-grown salads represent 6% of an $8 billion category, but account for 100% of the growth,' notes Abby Prior, chief commercial officer of Cox Farms, BrightFarms' parent company. Most produce is at its highest nutritional value the moment it's harvested. The faster we get it to consumers, the healthier it is for them.' Abby Prior, Cox Farms This switch delivers produce that is fresher, safer, and more reliable—traits that are especially meaningful to cash-strapped consumers. The unstoppable rise in food prices during the past few years has caused many to re-evaluate their household and caloric budgets. Fresh produce needs flavor, visual appeal, and importantly, the shelf life to compete with hyper-processed foods that busy consumers often choose for convenience. If produce can last longer, the likelihood increases that it will be used and not go to waste. Combined with the added ease of not needing to be washed, greenhouse-grown produce provides much-needed value and convenience. Only 1 in 10 Americans regularly eats the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables—a shocking statistic skewed further by income and demographics. To that end, BrightFarms has partnered with Feeding America to donate millions of pounds of excess product to their network of more than 200 food banks, including the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, which the Macon facility serves. 'It's probably the only fresh greens we have right now,' says Kathy McCollum, the organization's president and CEO. This is how you transform American diets: one salad at a time. AUTOMATION FROM SEED TO STORE BrightFarms' regional greenhouse model represents a radical departure from transcontinental supply chains. Acquired by Cox Enterprises in 2021, the firm harnessed its parent's resources to open new hubs in Illinois, Texas, and Georgia last year, with additional expansion plans that will eventually triple its annual production to 150 million pounds of leafy greens and bring two-thirds of the country within reach. This not only produces steady, year-round harvests, but also deliveries in as little as 24 hours, cutting more than a week from typical farm-to-fork timetables while significantly lowering transportation time and emissions. These vertically-integrated facilities also leverage automation from seed to store, all but eliminating contamination risks inherent in today's agriculture. When foodborne illnesses strike conventional farms, 'you see entire shelves—all brands, all locations—being pulled because it's impossible to tell where the problem came from,' Prior explains. By contrast, BrightFarms' closed-loop system offers complete traceability while ensuring delivery at the height of freshness. 'Most produce is at its highest nutritional value the moment it's harvested,' Prior adds. 'The faster we get it to consumers, the healthier it is for them.' This means its donations to the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank arrive in peak condition rather than wilted remnants. And instead of being packaged as bulk shipments, BrightFarms' lettuce lands in the food bank's warehouse as ready-to-eat individual portions, helping to nudge families toward choosing greens for dinner. 'If we have that available so it becomes a regular part of their children's diets, that generation could be much healthier than they would have otherwise been,' McCollum says. RESTORING AG TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES Beyond feeding the communities it serves, BrightFarms' greenhouses are also catalyzing revitalization. The Macon facility will employ 250 workers at full capacity, offering technical and engineering career paths unimaginable to previous generations of local farmers. 'We're able to bring agriculture back to the communities that lost it,' Prior says. Rather than relying on low-wage laborers a continent or two away, the greenhouse model promises new pathways to participate in local production and recirculate dollars as well as nutrients. BrightFarms' lettuce is just the beginning of a greenhouse-led restocking of America's produce sections. Prior envisions a future in which tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers—crops already 80% greenhouse-grown globally—join leafy greens in regional growing facilities, creating a distributed network of agricultural infrastructure as reliable as the electrical grid. This evolution promises to fundamentally alter both what appears on American plates and who grows it. Shorter supply chains mean fresher, longer-lasting produce that retains more vitamins. Predictable harvests enable health and wellness programs to prescribe vegetables as preventative medicine. Stable pricing makes healthy eating more accessible across income levels. As the time from farm-to-fork shrinks from days to hours, it's worth noting that the healthiest communities are those that feed themselves.
Globe and Mail
21-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Raymond James Welcomes Experienced Financial Advisor Managing $750 Million in Georgia
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Raymond James recently welcomed financial advisor Robert Chanin to Raymond James & Associates (RJA) – the firm's employee advisor channel – according to Gregg Stupinski, South Atlantic regional director for RJA. Based in Macon, Georgia, Chanin provides clients with comprehensive wealth management, specializing in high-net-worth clients. He arrives from Stifel, where he previously managed approximately $750 million in client assets. 'At this point in my career, aligning with Raymond James allows me to deliver a broader suite of capabilities to meet the increasingly complex needs of my high-net-worth clients,' said Chanin. 'The firm's extensive resources and planning infrastructure enhance my ability to provide the white glove service my clients expect.' Chanin began his career in 1979, bringing over 45 years of industry experience to his role as managing director. His experience is backed by a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia. 'Robert's decision to join Raymond James reflects the firm's continued appeal to seasoned advisors seeking the freedom to serve their clients on their own terms, without compromising on resources or support,' said Stupinski. 'His dedication to personalized wealth management aligns perfectly with our client-first culture, and we are proud to welcome him to our Macon branch.' About Raymond James & Associates Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (RJA), member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC, is an industry leader in financial planning and wealth management services for individuals, high-net-worth families, corporations and municipalities. RJA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF), one of the nation's premier diversified financial services companies with advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are approximately $1.58 trillion as of May 31, 2025. Additional information is available at
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sunday Conversation: Republican Sen. John Kennedy talks about run for lieutenant governor
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — The 2026 campaign season has already started. Candidates for statewide office are beginning to gear up their campaigns. One of those candidates, State Sen. John Kennedy, R-Macon, stopped by the WRBL studios recently to be a guest on the Sunday Conversation. Kennedy, the president pro tem of the Senate, is running for lieutenant governor. He talked about what that looks like going into an election year. Qualifying for office is in early March 2026. The primary is May 19, 2026. The General Election will be in November. Kennedy, an attorney, also led the governor's efforts for civil litigation reform in this year's General Assembly session. Here's the interview: Part 1 Part 2 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Russell Henley family tree: Meet 2025 British Open contender's wife Teil, three children, parents more
Russell Henley is making a push at the 2025 Open Championship. After shooting a six-under 65 in the third round on Saturday, he's put himself near the top of the leaderboard heading into Sunday. The Macon, Georgia native is looking for his second win on the PGA Tour in 2025, after claiming the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. Henley has a strong family supporting him, including his wife, Teil Duncan, and three children. They were there to celebrate with him for his first victory of the year, and they hope to watch him hoist the Claret Jug soon. Here's a look at Russell Henley's family tree. MORE: Full course details on Royal Portrush, home to 2025 British Open Russell Henley wife: Teil Duncan Henley Henley and his wife, Teil Duncan, married in 2015. They were first introduced in 2013 at the wedding of Teil's sister and one of Russell's friends. They went on a first date a few months later and got engaged in 2014. Henley's wife attended Auburn University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Art. She is now a contemporary artist based in her hometown of Columbus, Georgia, and in 2024, she started a company called Teil Textiles and Wallpaper, which offers interior design ideas for the home. MORE: Explaining the biggest differences between links golf vs. regular golf Russell Henley son: Robert Russell Henley Henley and Duncan have a son named Robert Russell, who was born on April 3, 2018, shortly before the Masters began. In 2023, Henley detailed that Robert was born with brain swelling and was in a NICU unit in Charleston, South Carolina. He considered withdrawing from the tournament, but Robert's condition ultimately improved. Henley finished tied for 15th and rushed home after the final round to be with his son. MORE:Complete history of every British Open winner Russell Henley daughters Ruth Teil Henley Henley and Duncan's first daughter, Ruth Teil, was born on June 14, 2019. At his last PGA Tour win, the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitation, Henley embraced all of his kids in an incredible family moment. Jane Edith Henley Henley & Duncan's third child, Jane Edith, was born on June 4, 2022. Her father won the World Wide Technology Championship in the same year she was born. MORE: Why is the Masters always played at Augusta National? Russell Henley dad: Dr. Chapin Henley Henley's father, Dr. Chapin Henley, passed away last year at 85. After graduating from University of Florida Medical School, he became an obstetrician gynecologist and delivered more than 5,000 babies in his career. He later founded Macon Volunteer Clinic to offer free healthcare to the uninsured. Henley established a scholarship fund earlier this year in his dad's name. MORE: How to qualify for the U.S. Open Russell Henley mom: Sally Henly Henley's mom, Sally, raised Russell and his siblings Matt, Adam and Elizabeth in Macon, Georgia. In 2010, Russell won an amateur tournament on the Nationwide Tour on Mother's Day, giving his mom a nice gift. MORE:Ranking the 5 toughest courses in U.S. Open history Russell Henley brother: Matt Henley Henley's brother, Matt, is 11 years older and has caddied for his sibling in the past, including at the U.S. Open in 2010, when Russell competed as a college amateur. Matt is married with two children and resides in Macon. MORE: Everything to know about the Masters Green Jacket Where is Russell Henley from? Henley is from Macon, Georgia. and attended the nearby University of Georgia. He turned professional in 2011 and joined the PGA Tour in 2013. MORE: Scottie Scheffler family tree: Meet wife Meredith, son Bennett and more
Associated Press
16-07-2025
- Associated Press
Searchers recover 2 sisters and man who drowned in river at Georgia park
MACON, Ga. (AP) — The bodies of two young sisters and a man were found Wednesday after they drowned in a river at a middle Georgia park. Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones tells local news outlets that 28-year-old Johnny Collins III, 10-year-old Skyler Worthen and 7-year-old Summer McRae were recovered Wednesday from the Ocmulgee River in Macon. Worthen and McRae, sisters, were swimming at Amerson River Park on Tuesday when they started drifting into the deeper waters. Collins jumped in to help, but all three went underwater and did not come back up. Officials couldn't immediately confirm the man's relationship to the children. Boats, divers with sonar and a helicopter deployed to look for the people. They suspended the search after sundown Tuesday, but family members kept looking after dark. The bodies were found after officials resumed their efforts Wednesday morning. At least 14 people have drowned at the park since it opened in 2009, according to news reports. The Ocmulgee is shallow in portions of the park, and it hosts a commercial tubing operation as well as rope swings for jumping into the water. But officials have said in the past that the river gets deeper quickly and has a strong current that can sweep people away. The park was closed Wednesday during the search, but sheriff's deputies said it will reopen Thursday.
