MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Revol Greens May Close Owatonna Greenhouse and Eliminate 89 Jobs

Minnesota lettuce producer Revol Greens may close its Owatonna greenhouse and eliminate 89 positions in October unless it secures additional funding or finds a buyer. The potential closure remains conditional, and the company has not announced that the facility will definitively shut down.

OWATONNA, MN (August 7, 2026) Revol Greens may close its greenhouse operation in Owatonna and eliminate 89 jobs this fall, creating new uncertainty for employees and Minnesota’s controlled-environment agriculture industry.

The lettuce producer could close the facility in October unless it obtains a new source of funding or finds a buyer, according to reporting by Minnesota Public Radio News.

The possible closure has not been presented as final. The company’s continued search for financing or a purchaser means the outcome could change before the anticipated October date.

Workers face uncertainty

The potential elimination of 89 positions would affect employees involved in greenhouse growing, harvesting, packaging, maintenance, logistics and facility support.

A closure involving that number of workers would also have consequences beyond the greenhouse. Local suppliers, transportation providers and businesses serving employees could experience secondary effects.

If the closure proceeds, affected employees may qualify for state workforce services, including career counseling, job-search support, training assistance and information about unemployment benefits.

Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development provides assistance to workers and employers dealing with large layoffs. The availability of specific services will depend on the company’s final decision and the circumstances affecting individual employees.

A different model of food production

Revol Greens is part of the controlled-environment agriculture sector, which uses large greenhouses to grow leafy greens under managed conditions.

Greenhouse production can supply lettuce and other greens throughout the year while locating farms closer to regional grocery markets. Supporters of the model point to shorter transportation distances and greater control over temperature, water and growing conditions.

The potential Owatonna closure demonstrates that controlled agriculture remains subject to many of the same financial pressures affecting other food producers. Energy, labor, construction, financing, packaging and distribution costs can all influence whether a large greenhouse remains economically viable.

Funding or buyer could change outcome

The central question is whether Revol Greens can obtain enough new investment to continue operating the Owatonna location or complete a sale that preserves some or all of the operation.

A buyer could choose to maintain production, restructure the facility or use the property for a different purpose. Until an agreement is reached or the company makes a final announcement, the status of the 89 jobs remains unresolved.

Local and state officials will likely monitor the situation because of its effect on employment and Minnesota’s agricultural economy.

For workers, the uncertainty may continue for weeks. The October timeline gives the company an opportunity to pursue alternatives, but it also means employees must prepare for the possibility that the greenhouse will cease operating.

STAY CONNECTED TO MINNEAPOLIMEDIA

Local stories matter. Subscribe free to MinneapoliMedia and receive independent news, community reporting and important updates from Minneapolis, the North Metro and communities across Minnesota.

SUBSCRIBE FREE: https://minneapolimedia.town.news/subscribe

MinneapoliMedia | Community. Culture. Civic Life.