Here's a question you've probably asked yourself while tossing out another bag of wilted greens: Why do some salads turn sad and limp in just a few days, while others stay crisp for a whole week?

The answer is not magic. It's good science, care, and a system engineered around one simple truth: that freshness has little to do with harvest and everything to do with growing, handling, and delivering.

At Planted Detroit, our greens are vibrant and crunchy for up to 7 days because every decision and process we implement focuses on what matters: flavor, texture, and nutrients. 

We obsess over keeping things fresh from seed to delivery. This blog gives you an insight into our vertical farm in Detroit and the process that keeps greens ultra-fresh from harvest to your fridge.

It Starts at the Source: A Vertical Farm Detroit Built for Freshness

Step inside our farm in Islandview, and you'll see greens growing upward under LED lights: rows stacked high, each plant positioned to get precisely what it needs. 

This is the largest vertical farm in Detroit, Michigan, constructed from the ground up for ultimate freshness.

Our hydroponic farm in Detroit is built without the use of soil, pesticides, or unpredictable weather. Just nutrient-rich water, carefully balanced for each of our plants. Temperature is constant. Light cycles are optimized. Humidity is controlled. We can grow year-round without the risk of frost, drought, or contamination.

And since we grow the produce right here in the city, there is no long-haul trucking involved. Traditional greens travel more than a thousand miles. Ours often get transported for just a few hours.

That is the foundation: when you take the distance out of farm-to-fork, greens remain crisper, tastes are brighter, and nutrients remain.

Grown in a Controlled Environment for Peak Quality

Freshness begins days before harvest, and it is built into the growing conditions. 

At the Planted Detroit farm, we utilize controlled environment agriculture with a focus on producing tender, nutrient-dense leaves. We fine-tune the temperature, humidity, and airflow to keep the plants happy, thriving, and in a stress-free state. 

Because we grow our greens hydroponically, they never come into contact with soil. No grit, no dirt, and no aggressive washing that impacts fragile leaves. They are clean from the beginning, and clean greens last longer. 

Controlled environment agriculture also means no pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. It just needs water, light, and nutrients. When plants aren't fighting pests or recovering from pesticides, they are more robust. 

For every plant, we grow it under optimal conditions to ensure maximum freshness before it is harvested.

Harvest Day at the Planted Detroit Farm

It is early morning at our vertical farm in Detroit. The greens are at their prime: leaves are full and healthy, colors are vibrant, and stems are strong.

Our team harvests them by hand, in small batches at a time, gently cutting at the stem to apply as little stress as possible and help avoid bruising. No machines. No conveyor belts. Just our trusted hands and sharp scissors, collected with love!

Immediately after a bunch is harvested, it goes straight into cold storage. Rapidly turning down the temperature slows respiration naturally. In a matter of minutes, the greens are cool, locking in their crunch and flavor.

Having a local Planted Detroit farm in Islandview, Detroit, basically means that everything takes place under the same roof. There is no transportation of harvested greens, resulting in a zero carbon footprint. There is no additional handling from facility to facility. It's just harvest, chill, pack, and deliver, same day, same neighborhood.

Speed and care. This is what keeps greens crisp.

Smart Packing Leads to Crisp Greens for Days

The way you pack greens will help determine whether they last crisp for three days or a full week.

At our vertical farm in Detroit, we maintain uninterrupted temperature control from harvest to delivery. After harvest, our greens, if necessary, are gently washed, spun dry, and packed.

Our packaging breathes. Moisture and humidity are the enemies of crispness. Too much humidity leads to slime. Too little air leads to drying, and we have found the correct balance with our containers that ventilate just enough.

We lay out the contents with care to ensure the delicate microgreens always stay on top and the heartier greens on the bottom. Nothing crushed. Nothing bruised. Minimal handling at every step.

Because we operate our own vertical farm in Detroit, we control every aspect of the process. There is no middleman and no distribution center. Direct from the farm to your door; ice-cooled, insulated, and ready to stay crisp for an entire week.

Deliver the Same Day: Freshness You Can Taste

Most leafy greens found in grocery stores are picked days, even more than a week, before you find them in your cart. They travel hundreds of miles, through multiple facilities, then sit in warehouses. By the time they reach the shelf, they have lost their crunch, flavor, and nutritional value. 

Our greens? Harvested in the morning. Delivered in the evening. Same day. 

This is the power of a hydroponic farm Detroit model built for the community it serves. We are growing food for our neighborhood.

You can taste the difference. The snap when you bite it. The bright, clean flavor and the way the greens feel alive. 

And fresh greens retain more vitamins and minerals. When you eat greens harvested hours ago instead of days ago, you're getting more of what your body needs. 

Storage Tips at Home to Keep Greens Crisp

The greens are ultra-fresh, grown in our vertical farm in Detroit. Here's how to maintain that freshness:

• Keep the greens sealed until you're ready to consume. Our packaging is designed to maintain the perfect micro-environment inside.

• Keep your greens in the coldest and most humid part of your refrigerator to preserve their crispness.

• Do not dress your greens ahead of time. Dressing deteriorates the leaves. Only toss in dressing just before eating.

• Keep microgreens separate until plating, as they are more delicate.

• For leftovers, be sure to repackage your greens in a breathable container, along with a paper towel to absorb moisture.

If you treat them with care, your greens will remain fresh all week long.

We control the growing conditions. We are always careful with the harvest. We pack smartly. We deliver the same day. Every step protects the flavor, texture, and nutrition. 

Fresh Greens, Planted Detroit, and You

It all happens in Islandview Detroit, inside of a state-of-the-art vertical farm Detroit built to grow fresh food for you. And every bundle is a promise: greens grown with precision, handled with care, and delivered with pride. 

Are you ready to taste the difference? 

Explore our salad bundles and experience greens that will stay crisp all week!