The UK-based Oasthouse Ventures announced on Friday that it will invest $104.8 million to construct its first US-based controlled environment agriculture operation in Carroll County.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin approved $800,000 in state grants to go toward the project, which will initially create 118 new jobs with a total of 265 full and part-time positions for the project.
“This project is a technological leap forward and helps solidify Virginia as a leader in the agriculture and technology industries. I am pleased to welcome Oasthouse Ventures to Virginia and look forward to their growth,” Youngkin said in a statement.
According to a press release from the governor’s office, Oasthouse Ventures plans to produce and package more than 45 million pounds of tomatoes at the new location in Mount Rogers for distribution to major retailers throughout the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest.
The company plans to source more than 31,000 tons annually of Virginia-grown hardwood residuals from local sawmills to heat its greenhouses.
“Our Carroll County facility represents a major step toward building a network of large-scale, sustainable indoor farming operations that will supply American-grown fresh produce across the eastern United States,” Oasthouse Ventures Senior Development Manager Ben Alexander said.
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Chris Graham
