Historic Produce Hothouse Project in the Works

By Southeast Produce Weekly|September 6, 2020

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue recently joined South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Commisioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, and representatives from Mastronardi Produce, LiDestri, and Clear Water Farms to announce the largest single economic opportunity ag investment in U.S. history, a $314 million Agriculture Technology Campus planned in Hampton County, SC.

The project is a joint venture encompassing multiple greenhouses and hoop houses, a 150,000-square-foot distribution center, and a large co-packer centrally located within the cluster, which is situated near I-95.

The 1,000-acre agribusiness cluster in Hampton County will employ 1,547 people in growing, packing and shipping tomatoes, leafy greens, blueberries, and other fresh produce – using controlled environment agriculture.

For the past three years, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture has been exploring the potential for controlled environment agriculture to boost the state’s agricultural economy, not only providing new jobs but offering opportunities for existing South Carolina farmers as agribusiness operations build a local supply chain.

The Agriculture Technology Campus brings together several powerhouse agribusinesses – Mastronardi Produce, a Canadian company that sells tomatoes under the Sunset label; LiDestri Food and Drink, which will provide processing, packing, shipping and logistical services; and Clear Water Farms, an experienced indoor grower of leafy greens – along with GEM Opportunity Zone Fund.