80 Acres Farms Celebrates Grand Opening of Vertical Farming Operation

The facility is located in an existing 200,000-square-foot building in Boone County.

Shutterstock photo.

(Boone County, Ky.) – A new vertical farming facility is open in Boone County.

On Thursday, Governor Andy Beshear congratulated 80 Acres Farms on their grand opening, which will create 125 well-paying jobs with an investment of up to $95 million.

“Kentucky’s growth in the agritech sector is a key part of our commonwealth’s surging and versatile economy, which is creating quality job opportunities for all Kentuckians,” Gov. Beshear said. “I had the chance to tour this incredible facility Tuesday, and seeing this project firsthand was impressive. This is a major project for Northern Kentucky, and I am very pleased to see 80 Acres Farms’ facility fully operational.”

Announced in January 2022, the facility is located in an existing 200,000-square-foot building on more than 22 acres, making it the company’s largest and most advanced farm to date.

The facility has been converted into a vertical farming operation to serve the local market and includes high-tech indoor vertical farm and harvesting, as well as packaging and distribution capabilities.

Initially, the operation will grow greens, basil and microgreens with the capability to produce other crops such as berries and tomatoes. The controlled-environment farm will produce tens of millions of servings of local, fresh produce for the surrounding area.

Founded in 2015, 80 Acres Farms operates indoor farms using 100% renewable energy and without the use of pesticides. The company’s flagship farm, located in Hamilton, Ohio, has the capacity to grow 10 million servings of produce annually.

The company currently operates four farms and has been a supplier to Kroger since 2019.