Chase Werner

Endless Sun Produce :  Year-Round Salad Greens

Endless Sun Produce is an urban hydroponic lettuce operation started by Raleigh natives Chase Werner and Matt Spitzer using half the water, fertilizer and space compared to traditional agriculture to grow the tastiest, freshest, and healthiest salad greens all year long.Endless Sun’s beginnings date back to 2006, when Chase and Matt built their first hydroponic system, growing and selling lettuce to neighbors and friends. They have shared a passion for entrepreneurship, local food systems and sustainable agriculture ever since.Graduating from NC State in 2011 with degrees in Business and Horticulture, they decided to make urban farming their full-time occupations.  Both presently work at Raleigh’s only hydroponic resource store, Fifth Season, where Chase is the store manager.Through the fall and winter of 2013, Endless Sun has maintained and refined their current hydroponic system at Interfaith Food Shuttle’s educational and incubator farm on Tryon Rd.  They are now launching the construction of their first commercial-sized hydroponic greenhouse at Raleigh City Farm.Like Kailyard Farm, Endless Sun plans to utilize the shared infrastructure, high visibility and co-marketing opportunities at Raleigh City Farm to establish a customer following and expand gradually into additional greenhouses at other locations.Endless Sun will primarily produce a variety of small-leaf head lettuces sold with their roots attached, allowing these greens to stay crisp and fresh at least 2 weeks in refrigeration.  When the root ball is cut, these small loose leaves are already a platable size with no further cutting or washing necessary.