Berkshire’s challenge
Berkshire Produce is a US based lettuce grower focused on year round, locally produced leafy greens. As market pressure on field grown lettuce increases due to labor shortages, climate volatility, and supply inconsistency, Berkshire faced a clear question.
How can CEA lettuce production be scaled to compete with traditional field grown methods on cost, consistency, and reliability?
Rather than optimizing individual processes, Berkshire chose to rethink lettuce production as an integrated, industrial system.
To achieve this, Berkshire partnered with Flier Systems and Lettuce Lead to implement a self-proclaimed Deep Flow Technique 3.0, an improved hydroponic production concept designed for large scale, factory based lettuce production.
For Berkshire, DFT 3.0 is not just a cultivation method. It is the foundation of a production model where hydroponics, automation, and software control operate as one integrated system.
This strategic choice allows Berkshire to move beyond greenhouse limitations and operate lettuce production as a controlled, repeatable process.
Producing plugs internally eliminates the need for paper and glue based consumables. This reduces recurring material costs while improving plant uniformity and production predictability.
Automated loading, unloading, and internal transport of lettuce reduce physical handling. This minimizes harvest losses and protects crop quality throughout the production.
A fully software controlled production flow minimizes manual handling and ensures precise control over every step of the lettuce production process. This factory style approach improves consistency, scalability, and operational efficiency.
Stay tuned