A local company is building a nearly 3,000 square foot, $275,000 greenhouse to grow lettuce for Springfield City Schools and area restaurants.

TAC Enterprises — a private nonprofit manufacturing business that employs people with disabilities — began growing lettuce and basil hydroponically in late 2009. The plants are grown in a rock wool medium instead of soil and nutrient filled water is circulated through, said Dave Faulkner, TAC enterprises communications manager.

Springfield City Schools found out about TAC’s hydroponic project last year in the News-Sun and realized they could benefit from locally grown lettuce, said Chris Ashley, food services supervisor for the district. The school requested 400 pounds of romaine lettuce a week starting this fall.

Romaine lettuce “is a more nutrient dense product than iceberg lettuce, it would be better for the students,” Ashley said. “We have been getting romaine from (TAC enterprises) all year in smaller quantities, about 40 pounds a week.”

In order to meet the schools’ needs, as well as to continue growing lettuce and herbs for local restaurants, TAC Enterprises saw the need to build a large greenhouse to hold the products.

Faulkner said weather has proved a challenge, but crews finally broke ground Wednesday. The greenhouse should be complete in July.

Having a local source for lettuce makes the price for the organic produce comparable to what Springfield City usually buys.

“Buying it typically it would be a Dole brand or some place out of California,” he said. “We’ve got multiple sources looking at what the pricing would be and it’s comparable.”

Ashley said it would costs schools about $500 a week to buy romaine lettuce from TAC.

“And there’s the added benefit of providing local jobs and the money is more or less staying in the community,” he added.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371.