U.S. company BrightFarms has signed a lease in Washington D.C. for the site where it plans to build a 100,000 square foot hydroponic greenhouse, following on from an agreement last year with the District of Columbia's Department of General Services (DGS).

In a release the company said the operation in Ward 8 would be the "world's most productive urban farm", supplying grocer Giant Food as the exclusive retailer in the nation's capital region.

Under that agreement, BrightFarms is responsible for financing, building and operating the greenhouse while Giant Food distributes the produce to its stores.

In an interview with www.freshfruitportal.com last month, BrightFarms director of business development Toby Tiktinsky said the project would likely break ground in July.

A company release said that by growing locally, BrightFarms delivered produce that was "thousands of miles fresher, more flavorful and better for the community", while the new greenhouse would also created 20 full-time, "green-collar jobs", facilitate 100 construction jobs and prevent storm water from going into local waterways.

"This greenhouse will be the world’s highest grossing urban farm and it will also have one of the greatest positive social impacts," BrightFarms CEO Paul Lightfoot said in the release.

DGS Director Brian J. Hanlon was also optimistic about the project.

"This is a great example of leveraging the District’s assets to make the most of our real estate portfolio in a dynamic way that produces results which reverberate across the city."

Related story: U.S.: BrightFarms to ramp up greenhouse rollout

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