Orlando, Fla.-based vertical farming company Kalera will open a facility in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2021.
Kalera’s Hawaiian location, according to a news release, will be the company’s eighth facility announced. The Hawaii facility will support about 60 jobs, according to the release.
“In addition to providing a bounty of fresh, affordable and delicious lettuces and microgreens to restaurants, cruise lines, resorts, hotels, and retailers, Kalera’s Honolulu location will increase food security and resilience on the island,” Daniel Malechuk, CEO for Kalera, said in the release. “With price inflation impacting almost all produce that reaches Hawaii due to prolonged shipping times, Kalera’s affordably priced products will increase access to a stable supply of healthy food for Hawaiian citizens and tourists.”
Kalera also has announced upcoming facilities in Atlanta, Houston, Denver, Seattle and Columbus and the completion of over $150 million in fundraising this year.
Kalera’s Honolulu facility will produce “millions of heads of lettuce” per year, according to the release.
Currently, 90% of Hawaii’s greens are currently grown on the mainland U.S. and shipped 2,500 miles to the islands, a journey that can take more than 10 days.
“The pandemic has really shown us how important sustainability is to Hawaii’s future,” David Ige, governor of Hawaii, said in the release. “Innovations like vertical farming help farmers be more productive while using less resources – especially water. That’s why it’s exciting that a company like Kalera is making an investment to bring their operations to Hawaii, where we are sensitive to reducing our impact on the environment.”
