July 13, 2020

Leafy greens producer Kalera to create largest vertical farming facility in Texas

Vertical farming company Kalera plans to open a new state-of-the-art growing facility in Houston in the spring of 2021.

Kalera’s new Houston facility will be the largest vertical farming facility in Texas. In a press release, the company cited it as the “next step” in its mission to bring leafy greens to consumers that are “fresher” and “safer” than field-grown lettuce.

“In light of the global pandemic and seemingly endless food safety recalls, today, more than ever, consumers are demanding food that is local and that they can trust. Kalera is leading the way in the indoor-farming AgTech revolution and we are proud, especially in today’s environment, to bring the safest, purest, freshest, most nutritious, sustainable, non-GMO, pesticide-free lettuce to cities across the country as we continue our rapid expansion plan across America and prepare to open our largest facility to date,” Daniel Malechuk, CEO, Kalera, said through a press release. “Houston presents Kalera with a wonderful market for our produce, as it allows us to not only supply one of the largest cities in America, but also service cities throughout the region including Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and New Orleans. Since we can easily supply produce within hours of harvest from this location to surrounding cities, Kalera can ensure the highest quality and freshness by delivering product to customers within hours of harvest, rather than days or weeks.”

The company utilizes cleanroom technology and processes to eliminate the use of chemicals and remove exposure to pathogens. With indoor facilities situated right where the demand is, Kalera is able to supply an abundance of produce locally, eliminating the need to travel long distances when shipping perishable products. Kalera’s plants grow while consuming 95% less water compared to field farming.

Kalera is able to quickly open its newest growing facility in Houston as a result of a streamlined design and construction process. As Kalera accelerates its growth over the next few years, it will continue to open additional facilities, expanding production capacity throughout the U.S. and internationally.

The new facility is being announced a mere two months after Kalera announced it will be opening a new facility in Atlanta in early 2021 — an announcement that took place less than two months after it opened its second Orlando, Florida farm.

While Kalera’s Atlanta farm is slated to be the highest production volume vertical farm in the Southeast, the new Houston facility will be even larger, and will generate dozens of new jobs for the local Houston community.

Kalera’s Houston farm’s lettuce will be available at retailers and food service distributors, as well as through the hospitality and travel industry.





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