Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce has added more North American acreage in one year than ever before in the company’s 70-year history.
In 2022 alone, Mastronardi has grown its local network by more than 350 acres — nearly half of which is lit growing capacity — in the company’s ongoing commitment to increasing access to locally grown fruits and vegetables year round, according to a news release.
“These are meaningful investments that we are so excited to bring to local communities,” Dean Taylor, vice president of business development at Mastronardi Produce, said in the release. “The scope of this growth is unprecedented. Mastronardi Produce is absolutely committed to local, and these expansions are a solid demonstration of that.”
With the addition of Kentucky, Rhode Island and Utah to its impressive CEA portfolio, Mastronardi Produce is now in eight states in the U.S, according to the release.
Details of that growth, according to the release, include:
- Earlier this year, the largest-ever greenhouse lettuce build was completed in Berea, Ky., spearheading cultivation for Queen of Greens, the industry’s first scaled, washed and ready-to-eat greenhouse lettuce.
- In nearby Richmond, Ky., an immense 60-acre lit greenhouse has been built, catapulting production of SUNSET tomato varieties like the brand’s flagship Campari tomato.
- In June, The Utah Greenhouse Company joined the Mastronardi network and began growing SUNSET’s Bombs tomatoes in a high-tech, 28-acre greenhouse set to double in capacity.
- In response to the huge demand for CEA strawberries, Mastronardi recently added two new strawberry greenhouses to grow SUNSET’s WOW Berries. Over 100 acres of lit strawberry farms are now in operation, solidifying WOW Berries’ industry leadership in a category it pioneered over a decade ago.
The company’s expansion in 2022 ensures it will reach more consumers and continue to meet growing customer demands, the release said.
Mastronardi will be highlighting its growing production profile at the upcoming IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, the release said.
