Near Chicago a newly built hydroponic spinach
"factory," a completely controlled environment for
growing spinach, produces on 1 acre of fl oor space
what it takes 100 acres of fi elds to produce.
Expenses, especially for electricity, are high, however,
and the spinach produced costs about four times as
much as washed California fi eld spinach, the spinach
commonly sold throughout the United States.
Which of the following, if true, best supports a
projection that the spinach-growing facility near
Chicago will be profi table?


(A) Once the operators of the facility are
experienced, they will be able to cut operating
expenses by about 25 percent.


(B) There is virtually no scope for any further
reduction in the cost per pound for California
field spinach.


(C) Unlike washed fi eld spinach, the hydroponically
grown spinach is untainted by any pesticides or
herbicides and thus will sell at exceptionally high
prices to such customers as health food
restaurants.

(D) Since spinach is a crop that ships relatively well,
the market for the hydroponically grown spinach
is no more limited to the Chicago area than the
market for California fi eld spinach is to
California.

(E) A second hydroponic facility is being built in
Canada, taking advantage of inexpensive
electricity and high vegetable prices.