• AeroFarms, one of the largest disruptors producing leafy greens aeroponically, has announced plans to expand production at its new 138,000-square-foot facility in Pittsylvania County in Virginia. The company also plans to create 60 new jobs in the county via its new facility.  

• The farm is expected to come online by Q2 2022 and will potentially supply almost 50 million customers across 1,000 retailers in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets. 

• This expansion is also supported by the USD 33,000 grant by the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID), approved by Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin, to support the entry of vertical farming in Virginia. The company is also eligible to receive state benefits under the Enterprise Zone and Job Grant Program (governed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development). 

<ul><li> Analyst QuickTake : AeroFarms’ Virginia farm is the third and largest commercial farm in its network in addition to its New York and New Jersey farms. The Virginia facility competes with Living Greens Farms, which announced opening a 200,000 sq ft Indiana facility that is expected to open in early 2023. With three farms in operation, the company competes with players such as Square Roots (five farms), Fifth Season (two farms), and Living Greens Farms (two farms).</ul>