Ellicottville Greens

Ellicottville Greens builds and operates a distributed network of vertical farms that fit within shipping containers. The company produces micro greens, baby greens, leafy greens, soybeans, and herbs. It grows its organic produce without chemicals, using non-GMO seeds, on solar and hydro-powered energy. It claims to use 70% less water than traditional farming and only uses 99% plant-based packaging. 

As of December 2023, the company operates 37 container farms with vertical towers, producing 1,000 heads of lettuce per container weekly in Clarence and Olean (started in September 2023). The company had plans to expand in Louisville and Indianapolis. The company also runs a remote container behind the Eastern Hills Mall in Williamsville. Most of its sales are wholesale, with some direct sales to restaurants, schools, and individual subscriptions.The company acquired Vertical Fresh Farms, an indoor farming operation in Buffalo, in February 2021 and operates it as a microgreen facility. 

Key customers and partnerships

In August 2023, Ellicottville Greens collaborated with the University at Buffalo and StarCo Lighting on a USD 50,000 FuzeHub-funded project to create advanced lighting systems to detect threats in plants for vertical farming. In September 2023, The Hickey Dining Hall began sourcing baby spinach, bibb lettuce, cilantro, dill, chives, parsley, sunflower sprouts, and pea sprouts from Ellicottville Greens and expected to receive all mixed greens and romaine lettuce starting in October. 

Funding and financials

In March 2021, Ellicottville Greens raised USD 1 million in Series A funding led by Andrea Vossler and Scott E. Friedman, to construct mobile vertical farming facilities inside shipping containers. In 2022, the company received a USD 5,000 grant by participating in the Laine Business Accelerator program.