Van der Hoeven has announced the official opening of the Better Future Farms facility in Virginia. Located on a 61-acre site, this semi-closed greenhouse is dedicated to leafy greens. The facility features full automation, from seeding to packaging.
The project's production area is equipped with advanced technology, enabling the cultivation and packaging of leafy greens. The facility has features such as automated seeding, transplanting, harvesting, climate control, processing, and packaging. This approach ensures a year-round supply of leafy greens, meeting the increasing demand for fresh produce in Virginia while minimizing labor requirements.
Van der Hoeven will continue to provide ongoing support to Better Future Farms, ensuring smooth operations and ongoing optimization to maximize the facility's profitability.
Better Future Farms partnered with Generate Capital, a sustainable investment and operating platform to drive the infrastructure transition. Van der Hoeven provided the engineering, procurement, and construction for this project.
Bas Duijvestijn, Chief Commercial Officer of Van der Hoeven said: "This facility is a significant milestone and highlights our commitment to delivering solutions that meet the demand for fresh, locally grown vegetables. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Better Future Farms and supporting the future of farming."
This project is a significant undertaking in partnership with Mobile Gutter Systems company Hortiplan. Both Hortiplan and Van der Hoeven are part of Arvesta, the full-service partner for farmers and horticulturists.
David Drescher, CEO of Better Future Farms said: "It is amazing to see how it all came together. The lettuce looks and tastes fantastic. Initial customer feedback has been extremely positive. We look forward to providing locally grown lettuce to our customers year-round for years to come and appreciate the hard work of Van Der Hoeven and Hortiplan."
For more information:
Van der Hoeven
www.vanderhoeven.nl