Gotham Greens Heads West, With a Focus on Both Production and Research
March 4, 2021 Gotham Greens has announced its latest state-of-the-art greenhouse will be located in California near the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), one of the world’s leading agriculture research and teaching centers.
Located in Solano County, CA, the first phase of Gotham Greens’ 10-acre greenhouse facility is expected to open in 2021 and will enable the company to deliver fresh, greenhouse-grown leafy greens to more retailers, foodservice operators, and consumers on the West Coast. The company operates one of the largest and most advanced networks of hydroponic greenhouses in North America, where the demand for indoor-grown produce continues to surge.
“We are proud to bring Gotham Greens to the West Coast and partner with one of the highest-ranked agricultural research centers in the world to advance the entire agriculture system,” says Viraj Puri, Co-Founder and CEO of Gotham Greens. “California is responsible for growing one-third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of the nation’s fruits, yet in recent years, issues surrounding drought, food safety, and worker welfare have demonstrated the need for continued innovation.”
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) and the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (UCD CAES) have entered into a partnership with Gotham Greens to advance research and innovation in the areas of indoor agriculture, advanced greenhouse technology, and urban agriculture. The new greenhouse facility enables opportunities for Gotham Greens and the University of California system to collaborate on research and innovation focused on advancing the science, workforce, technology, and profitability of indoor agriculture globally.
“We are building a Controlled Environment Agriculture Consortium to support and advance the indoor farming industry, grow more fresh produce on less land, and create new jobs for Californians,” says Gabriel Youtsey, UC ANR Chief Innovation Officer. “Gotham Greens is an anchoring partner of this research and industry collaboration that we hope will spur innovation, create a new indoor farming workforce, and support industry growth.”
“We’re excited about collaborating with Gotham Greens, which is a coveted employer for tomorrow’s leaders in agriculture and engineering,” says Helene Dillard, Dean of UCD CAES. “This partnership will offer our students the chance to learn best practices from leading experts in indoor farming.”
The greenhouse will generate 60 full-time jobs and provide students in the University of California system with an opportunity to learn firsthand from the industry leader. Gotham Greens recently raised $87 million in new equity and debt capital, bringing the fast-growing company’s total financing to $130 million and fueling its next phase of growth.
“We are delighted for Gotham Greens to join Solano County’s thriving agricultural economy and help to usher in a new era in farming innovation, job creation, and economic growth for the region,” says Solano County Supervisor John Vasquez.
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