Soli Organic Inc. has unveiled its most technologically advanced facility yet in San Antonio's mixed-use Brooks Community at the site of the former Brooks Air Force Base. This new indoor vertical farm with pioneering technology builds on the state's rich agricultural traditions, boosts the local economy, enhances regional food security with locally grown produce, and creates employment opportunities.
The facility spans 140,000 square feet, including 100,000 square feet of production, with six vertical layers of growing capacity and 40,000 square feet for processing and packing. This addition to the company's footprint will help meet rising retailer and consumer demand for fresh, high-value, sustainably grown, organic produce across the rapidly expanding Texas Triangle and the broader Southwest region of the United States. The farm will grow over 10 different crops, including a range of organic herbs such as basil, cilantro, and mint, plus organic salad greens like spinach, arugula and romaine lettuce.
Harnessing the company's soil-based growing system, the San Antonio facility uses automation, lighting, precision organic fertigation, and vertical and horizontal space for the highest quality and yield, along with efficient use of inputs. This means the facility design enables growing with 90 percent less water and 1/100th of the land used in traditional outdoor farming. The facility also avoids the volatility of weather and the quality loss associated with extensive food miles, and its efficient technology keeps growing costs low and quality high, which is a value that is passed on to the consumer.
"In today's economy, consumers want value, and that's what our new facility is designed to deliver," said Matt Ryan, chief executive officer. "This high-tech farm will offer retailers and consumers fresh, organic produce grown here in Texas and is already delivering our best yields yet in a state known for the biggest and best of everything. This operation is pivotal to our national growth strategy."
"The introduction of Soli Organic's facility marks a new chapter in our history of fostering innovation and sustainable initiatives," said Brooks Community president and CEO Leo Gomez.
The new facility will create more than 100 jobs, including many high-wage, high-skill tech positions in horticulture and manufacturing.
Soli Organic has a longstanding presence in Texas, with strong retail partnerships nurtured over time, making this expansion a natural progression. The company's organic herbs and leafy greens are now available at many Texas retailers, and more new products are planned for sale at additional stores later in 2024.
Soli Organic is committed to continuing its growth trajectory. Following the launch of a new indoor farm in Anderson, South Carolina, the company is actively scouting farm locations in the Northeast to expand its existing distribution network that includes more than 20,000 stores nationwide, including most top 20 retailers.
For more information:
Jackie Attwood-Dupont
Soli Organic Inc.
[email protected]
www.soliorganic.com