The Shadow
AeroFarms held a ribbon cutting today to officially begin operations in a nearly 140,000 square-foot indoor farming facility. The state-of-the-art facility will employ more than 158 employees and supply flavorful, safe, indoor-grown lettuces and specialty leafy greens to major retailers throughout the Mid-Atlantic. The new facility is located in Cane Creek Centre, which is a joint industrial park owned by the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County.
“We are excited to be part of the future of agriculture in the great state of Virginia, an incredible state with a strong farming tradition,” said David Rosenberg, Co-Founder & CEO of AeroFarms. “Locating in the Danville area highlights how our innovative indoor growing approach works in both rural and urban environments. At 140,000 square feet, our new indoor vertical farm is the largest of its kind in the world. This facility will help us meet increased consumer demand for safely grown produce that always delivers peak flavor.”
The new Virginia AeroFarms indoor vertical farm will distribute primarily to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets with the ability to reach approximately 50 million people that are located within a day’s drive and over 1,000 retailers. This distribution will build on the company’s existing relationships with retailers such as Ahold Delhaize, Amazon Fresh, Harris Teeter, The Fresh Market, Weee!, Walmart, and Whole Foods Market.
“Agriculture continues to play a significant role in Virginia’s economy, and we congratulate AeroFarms on opening this state-of-the-art facility in Pittsylvania County,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. “Virginia is quickly becoming the destination of choice for companies in innovation-driven industries like indoor vertical farming to locate and to expand. This announcement is an important step on the pathway to a bright future of food security and prosperity for all Virginians.”
“When we work to remove unnecessary regulations while investing in the education and workforce resources that support our business community, Virginia can become the destination of choice for companies in innovation-driven industries like indoor vertical farming,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Caren Merrick. “I congratulate AeroFarms on the opening of this important new facility and thank the team of local leaders, educational institutions and business assistance resources who all worked to ensure this venture will be a success.”
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in New Jersey, AeroFarms is a purpose-driven Certified B Corporation, with a mission to grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity. The company is a leader in elevating agriculture with people and the planet in mind, helping address climate change by enabling local production without pesticides to grow safe, nutritious, and delicious food year round. AeroFarms is both a change-the-world technology company and an award-winning brand that is reimagining the way food is grown and celebrating its full FlavorSpectrum™ of flavorful possibilities.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission worked with Pittsylvania County, the City of Danville, and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to fund the AeroFarms project. The company has obtained assistance from Virginia Tech and Danville’s Institute for Advanced Learning and Research for workforce development assistance and plant testing. AeroFarms also qualifies for state benefits from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Virginia Enterprise Zone Program. Funding and services to support the company’s job creation are provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
