Canada-based Nature Fresh Farms has broken ground on a 180-acre greenhouse project in the U.S. state of Ohio, with the project expected to be completed in seven years' time. 

State and local officials were present in Delta for the project's first stage of 12 that kicked off on April 10.

"We are extremely delighted to be here today to put the first shovels in the ground for Phase I of our Delta Greenhouse Project," president and CEO Peter Quiring said, adding each phase would involve around 15 acres.

Ohio Lt. Governor Mary Taylor also took part in the event and said the project was 'about cooperation and partnership', highlighting it would create more than 300 jobs for the state.

Nature Fresh Farms said the Delta greenhouse would be a 'state of the art facility with a high degree of automation'.

"The facility will also be using special High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights to grow throughout the winter months," a company release said.

"Long term plans for the project call for a partnership with neighbour North Star BlueScope Steel to use their waste heat and CO2 to help heat the greenhouse and reduce the company's carbon footprint."

Earlier in the week, more than a dozen local businesses in Delta had their storefront windows painted & decorated by the Delta High School Art Club, welcoming Nature Fresh to the community.

"Seeing this type of community support with personal messages on storefront windows welcoming us to their town is extremely humbling," Quiring said.

Nature Fresh expects to pick its first crop of tomatoes in late December 2015 and will provide fresh locally grown Ohio tomatoes to Midwest grocery stores year-round.

The company said it has grown to become the largest independent greenhouse produce grower in Canada, as well as the largest greenhouse bell pepper grower in North America.

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