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Posted: 09/08/2011

Author: admin

Welcome to our new regional blog! Watch for great news and announcements from around the High Ground of Texas!

VALLEY FARMS BEGINS CONSTRUCTION ON 42 MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY IN MONAHANS, TEXAS

The Vancouver-based Village Farms International Inc. is building a greenhouse located in Monahans, Texas. The project broke ground in early June. It will be the Canadian firm’s fifth Texas greenhouse.

The greenhouse is based on the company’s proprietary technology, GATES, and is expected to begin production in early 2012. The company’s GATES-based greenhouse has successfully operated over the past four years in nearby Marfa.

Phase one of the Monahans greenhouse will incorporate a 30-acre production greenhouse in addition to various other service buildings including an advanced technology packing, sorting, and distribution facility. The long-term plan is to build a total of 120 acres, on the 320 acre site. The Monahans greenhouse initially will employ 80 to 100 people and bear a capital investment of approximately $42 million, which includes certain infrastructure improvements for future phases. Each consecutive phase would contribute approximately 30 acres of production area.

“Currently we face increased demand for our U.S. product because of the 'buy local' food movement,” said chief executive Michael DeGiglio in a prepared statement. “Given the momentum of this cultural change, our new facility is well positioned to support our customers in this increased demand for regionally grown fresh premium produce. We are very excited about this next project not only because it is in the State of Texas but also because it will be one of most advanced commercial food producing greenhouses built to date.”

Renewable Energy and Green Initiatives

The Monahans greenhouse will be based on a hydroponic growing system. The greenhouse will recycle its water up to five times and utilize 86 percent less water compared to field tomato farming.
In addition, the Monahans greenhouse will receive a portion of its electricity needs from renewable wind power. This state of the art facility will operate within a fully enclosed system mitigating outside contaminants and unwanted crop pressures.

The Monahans’ greenhouse also will use supplemental lighting and be among the first greenhouses in North America to use diffused roof glass capable of increasing yields over conventional clear glass. The company (in conjunction with its technology partners Verbakel Bomkas BV and Hortimax BV, both headquartered in The Netherlands) has developed advances in growing systems enhancing "from seed to fork" integrated business model.

Village Farms is one of the largest producers, marketers and distributors of greenhouse-grown tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers in North America.

For more information on this project, please contact Morse Haynes, Monahans Economic Development Corporation at monahansedc@monahans.org

Ground Breaking