274. Scaling CEA Without Losing the Fundamentals w. Paul Sellew

In the final episode of CropTalk for 2026, I'm joined by Paul Sellew, Founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms.

Paul shares his journey from growing up in a family-run nursery in New England to building Little Leaf Farms into the leading packaged salad brand in Controlled Environment Agriculture. We talk through the early choices that shaped the company, why Little Leaf scaled deliberately, and how a consistent focus on people, plant health, and execution created long-term stability while much of the industry moved too fast.

The conversation also looks at what unfolded in CEA over the past decade. Paul offers a clear view of why so many ventures struggled, pointing to excess capital, weak fundamentals, and a lack of production discipline, while explaining how steady growth, strong teams, and attention to quality allowed Little Leaf to succeed.

A clear look at what actually works in Controlled Environment Agriculture as 2026 comes to a close.