Newark, N.J.-based AeroFarms, a Certified B Corp. indoor vertical farming company, will increase production of fresh, leafy greens as part of a major operational expansion of its new vertical farm in Pittsylvania County, Va.
This farm, a 138,670-square foot, high-tech facility, could be the world’s largest indoor vertical farm of its kind, according to a news release.
The new AeroFarms indoor vertical farm in Virginia will distribute primarily to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets with the ability to reach about 50 million people within a day’s drive and more than 1,000 grocery retailers, according to the release.
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This distribution will build on AeroFarms’ existing relationships with retailers such as Ahold Delhaize, Amazon Fresh, Harris Teeter, The Fresh Market, Weee!, Walmart and Whole Foods Market.
Virginia won in competition with other states for the project, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a July 26 announcement with other state officials, according to the release.
“Through today’s announcement, Virginia continues to demonstrate itself as the premier location for companies using technology and innovation to disrupt markets, generating massive benefits to consumers and investors alike, while creating new jobs and economic opportunities for the citizens of the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said.
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Technology is always driving agriculture forward, state Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr said.
“This is especially true in the fast-growing indoor agriculture industry, which has the potential to revolutionize how much of our food is produced,” he said.
The state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with the state Department of Economic Development and Pittsylvania County to secure this project.
Gov. Youngkin approved a $33,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, which the county will match with local funds. The company is also eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Job Creation Grant program, administered by the state Department of Housing and Community Development.
“We want to thank Gov. Youngkin and the entire state of Virginia for their tremendous support in bringing AeroFarms to Danville and Danville-Pittsylvania County,” AeroFarms Cofounder and CEO David Rosenberg said in the release.