Kingsville, Ontario, and Morehead, Kentucky – Produce industry leader Mastronardi Produce and AppHarvest have announced construction of a high-tech greenhouse in Morehead, Kentucky, which will bring an infusion of jobs and award-winning produce to the Appalachian states.
“The 60-acre, state-of the-art facility will be one of the most sustainable, efficient, and technologically advanced greenhouses of its kind,” says Paul Mastronardi, President and CEO, and the fourth-generation family member to lead Mastronardi Produce. “This is a significant milestone for Kentucky’s farming and food sectors.”
The new build represents Phase One of AppHarvest Founder and CEO Jonathan Webb’s vision to stoke the region’s economy, which took a major hit with the decline of coal. It will create year-round access to locally-grown SUNSET® tomatoes and cucumbers, and it will be the largest high-tech cucumber greenhouse in the US.
Both Mastronardi and AppHarvest share a strong commitment to developing communities, and the Morehead location was chosen with careful intention.
“Situated in the heart of America, the facility is within one day’s drive of 70% of the US population in a region known for its hard work, ingenuity, and tenacity,” says Webb. “This greenhouse will be a source of opportunity, optimism, and prosperity for the entire Appalachian region.”
“We believe everyone should be able to buy fresh vegetables,” says Mastronardi. “Thanks to this partnership, consumers in Kentucky and surrounding states—Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, to name a few—can look forward to flavorful SUNSET® produce arriving at stores within hours of being hand-picked. And increasing availability of local produce will continue to be a priority for us.”
Look for delicious, Kentucky-grown SUNSET® products to hit stores in 2020.
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About Mastronardi Produce®
A pioneer and industry leader in the gourmet greenhouse industry, Mastronardi Produce grows and markets nationally recognized products under the SUNSET® brand, including Campari®, Angel Sweet®, and Flavor Bombs® tomatoes. Family-owned for 65 years, Mastronardi Produce prides itself on producing consistently flavorful gourmet tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and berries.
About AppHarvest
AppHarvest is building some of America’s largest greenhouses, combining conventional agricultural techniques with today’s technology to grow non-GMO, chemical-free produce. This is #FarmingNow in Appalachia.
