Hydroponic vertical farming company Kalera, Orlando, Fla., is planning to begin construction on a production facility in Seattle in 2021, which joins a growing list of expansions the company plans next year.
The company previously announced plans to open facilities in Atlanta, Houston and Denver next year.
With the Seattle operation, the company will extend its reach coast to coast, according to a news release, with plans to supply retailers, restaurants, theme parks and airports.
The growth is fueled by more than $150 million in fundraising in 2020.
“Thanks in part to our optimized design processes, we have been able to extend into new markets at an extremely quick rate,” CEO Daniel Malechuk said in the release. “Soon, customers from Orlando to Seattle will have access to fresh, locally-grown Kalera greens, every day of the year, regardless of weather, wildfires, or other natural disasters.”
The company has two growing facilities in Orlando.
Malechuk said Kalera operates with “an incredibly efficient growing method.”
“Because of this, we’ve been able to maintain conventional pricing and partnerships with large national chains, making our produce affordable and accessible,” he said in the release. “With our expansion, we’ll only be making our high-quality produce more accessible as we spread across the country.”
The company’s living lettuce line includes baby romaine, red oak leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, frisée and Kalera Krunch.
