Top stories from Produce Grower’s website

Logo courtesy of AppHarvest

Kentucky-based AppHarvest announces IPO

AppHarvest has announced its Initial Public Offering (IPO). The resulting company — AppHarvest, Inc. — will be traded on the Nasdaq exchange (effective Feb. 1) under the ticker symbols “APPH” and “APPHW.”

“Today marks an important milestone for AppHarvest and for American agriculture as we drive the next chapter of our growth as a public company,” said Jonathan Webb, founder and CEO of AppHarvest. “The capital we raised in this transaction will further advance our mission of transforming agriculture by developing large-scale sustainable food production in the heart of Central Appalachia. We currently import nearly half of all fresh vine crops sold in the U.S. To create a more resilient food system, we must farm more efficiently and closer to where the food is needed.”

>> Read the full story here.

Photo courtesy of Red Sun Farms

Red Sun Farms details 2021 expansion plans

Red Sun Farms, a greenhouse grower with locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, announced that it is in the process of adding 35 acres of growing space for the 2021 winter grower season.

This new addition comes on the heels of a 63.8-acre, three-phase expansion project in Kingsville, Ontario, that was completed in 2020. Red Sun’s Mexico branch also completed a 25-acre expansion last year.

With the new growth, Red Sun has 476 acres of growing space in Mexico and 211 in Canada, plus a “substantial” foothold in the U.S.

>> Read the full story here.

Photo courtesy of Shenandoah Growers

Shenandoah Growers launching living potted herbs program in April

‘That’s Tasty’, a Shenandoah Growers brand, will begin rolling out a living potted herbs program beginning in April.

“Quality and freshness are critical to this product line,” says Steven Wright, chief customer officer, “so we have committed our resources to ensure we harvest, pack and deliver the plants within 24 hours. That’s as fresh as you can get.”

Shenandoah Growers will ship what it claims are the “first ever pre-packed shipper displays designed specifically for living herbs.” The company says this will allow plants to be sold right when they arrive.

>> Read the full story here.