An innovative industry

It’s such an exciting time to be in the controlled environment agriculture industry. The opportunities for growth, expansion and innovation are astounding. Companies are finding new avenues to the same goal: fresh and healthy food for their customers.

AppHarvest, a vertical farm company based in Kentucky is a shining example of just that. Through public trading options, innovative technology, aggressive financing and thoughtful marketing, the company has been all over the news lately. You can delve into their operation, mission and plans on page 14. They have a seasoned and motivated staff as well as an exciting board at the helm and I personally believe they’re going to do great things for the industry.

Having the right people in the right place can make all the difference. And to achieve that, we’re making some changes here at Produce Grower magazine as well. It’s my pleasure to announce that Matthew Grassi will be moving from his role as managing editor to editor of this publication. Matthew has covered agriculture for many years, starting out in field crops and diving into greenhouse operations in 2019. You’ll be in good hands with Matthew and the rest of the Produce Grower team as they continue to bring you quality stories, news and advice for CEA professionals.

As for myself, I’ll be shifting my focus to another exciting, growing horticulture market with our Garden Center magazine and the accompanying Conference & Expo coming up in September. However, I’ll still be watching how the vertical farming industry continues to find new ways to provide fresh, healthy food to Americans. And I’ll certainly be eating my fair share of your products.