Kalera, a hydroponic vertical farming operator, has received USD 1.2 million from CenterPoint Energy Inc., a domestic energy delivery company and the supplier of electricity to Kalera’s Houston facility. The incentive is directed towards reducing the facility’s construction costs. The funds come amidst strong demand for the company’s leafy greens in Orlando and Atlanta.

The Houston facility’s initial harvest is expected in the first week of October and the facility is considered Kalera’s largest to date in terms of capacity (25% higher than Atlanta) and output (2.5x the output of the Orlando facility). The facility will serve both retail and foodservice customers.

Kalera also reported that its Orlando facility is seeing strong growth in sales post-Covid with sales during July and August up 69% compared to the first two months in Q2 2021. The facility also secured Disney as its foodservice customer during this month. The company is planning to further expand its Orlando facility during H12022 to serve the growing demand.

Moreover, the company is scaling its Atlanta facility due to higher demand from Kroger. The facility is expected to eventually have a capacity of ​​10 million heads of lettuce per year.