Better Future Farms, a greenhouse complex the size of 34 football pitches in Louisa County, Virginia, will produce and supply leafy greens
Netherlands-based greenhouse construction specialist Van der Hoeven has announced the official opening of Better Future Farms, a huge, fully automated production facility for leafy greens in the town of Louisa, in the US state of Virginia.
Located on a 61-acre site, the state-of-the-art, semi-closed greenhouse features full automation, from seeding to packaging, and is reckoned to be one of the most advanced in the world.
Better Future Farms partnered with Generate Capital, a leading sustainable investment and operating platform, to create the production centre, and worked with both Van der Hoeven and technology provider Hortiplan to build it.
“The Virginia facility is one-of-a kind and amazing to see how it all came together,” commented David Drescher, CEO of Better Future Farms. ”The lettuce looks and tastes fantastic. Initial customer feedback has been extremely positive. We look forward to providing locally grown lettuce to our customers year-round for years to come and appreciate the hard work of Van Der Hoeven and Hortiplan.”
According to Van der Hoeven, the project’s production area is equipped with advanced technology, enabling seamless cultivation and packaging of leafy greens.
With innovations such as automated seeding, transplanting, harvesting, climate control, processing and packaging, the facility sets a new standard in controlled environment agriculture, it added.
“This approach ensures a year-round supply of fresh, high-quality leafy greens, meeting the increasing demand for fresh produce in Virginia while minimising labour requirements.”
As part of its commitment to long-term sustainability and operational excellence, Van der Hoeven said it would continue to provide ongoing support to Better Future Farms, to ensure its smooth operation and maximised profitability.
“Van der Hoeven is proud to play a key role in advancing sustainable horticulture in the United States,” said Bas Duijvestijn, the group’s chief commercial officer.
“This state-of-the-art facility is a significant milestone and highlights our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that meet the demand for fresh, locally grown vegetables. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Better Future Farms and supporting the future of farming.”
