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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Crop One Establishes Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Vertical Farm

12/14/2022
Crop One, an industry-leader in technology-driven indoor vertical farming, will establish a vertical farm in Hazle Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The $105 million project is expected to create 40 jobs within three years.

The commercial scale vertical indoor farming facility, located at 405 Stony Creek Road, will be the company's third operation in the U.S. The 316,000-square-foot space will primarily grow romaine lettuce and spring mix, serving retailers, food service providers, and other partners located within close proximity, ensuring produce is packaged and on store shelves within 24 hours.

“As Crop One looked to expand into new geographies, Pennsylvania quickly emerged as a natural next step,” said Craig Ratajczyk, CEO at Crop One. “The state’s accessibility to a broad consumer base, paired with strong state support will make it easy for us to continue scaling our U.S. operations. We thank Governor Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development for their support. We look forward to becoming an important part of the local Luzerne County community.”

As an incentive the company received a funding proposal from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a loan of up to $3 million through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA); a $120,000 Pennsylvania First grant, and an $80,000 workforce development grant to train its new workers.

“Pennsylvania has a lot to offer to companies looking to set up shop here, such as our strategic Northeast U.S. location and skilled, committed workforce,” noted Governor Tom Wolf. “The commonwealth’s competitive edge provided us with an advantage over other states for this expansion project, and I’m very pleased to welcome Crop One to Pennsylvania.”

Crop One grows fresh, nutritious and delicious produce in indoor farms using hydroponic technology that ensures pesticide-free, optimal growing conditions and does not rely on chemicals or GMOs. The company achieves high crop yields with significantly less water and land than what is required by traditional agriculture. In 2018 Crop One announced a joint venture with Emirates Flight Catering to build and operate the world’s largest vertical farm, producing 3 tons of leafy greens for a historically arid climate.

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