As demand for berries from growers, gardeners and resellers rises, a new structure at Nourse Farms on River Road is rising to meet the moment.
The nearly 90-year-old farm's extensive expansion project, which got underway in October 2023, is projected to finish by November. Construction is progressing on a tissue culture lab for mother plants and a 7-acre "foundation warehouse" for indoor growing of plant material.
The project is the result of a partnership with investment management firm Solum Partners, which is focused on the food and agriculture industry, as Nourse Farms moves to expand and modernize its propagation footprint. The expansion also led to the acquisition of a 15-acre greenhouse in North Carolina.
CEO John Place said the expansion is an opportunity to meet the growing demand of the berry industry while also making an investment in the future of Nourse Farms here in Franklin County. "The berry industry itself has been growing at a significant clip for the last 10 years," Place said, adding that the modern lab and greenhouse will increase their capacity by "10 times." "This is headquarters. This is home."
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