Construction for what is due to be the world's largest indoor vertical farm has officially kicked off in New Jersey, with praise garnered from high-ranking state officials. 

The project came about through a US$30 million deal between several organizations, including AeroFarms, RBH Group, Goldman Sachs, Prudential Financial, the City of Newark, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).

Once completed, the facility will also serve as AeroFarms' new headquarters.

A ceremony to break ground recently took place, involving AeroFarms CEO David Rosenberg, RBH Group CEO Ron Beit and their investment partners, Goldman Sachs and Prudential Financial Inc.

They were also joined by several local and state officials including Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, New Jersey Acting Governor Kim Guadagno, and New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher.

The project is a public-private partnership that received public investments from the City of Newark and NJEDA, as well as New Market Tax Credit allocation from Goldman Sachs, United Fund Advisors and Dudley Ventures, and more than US$30 million of financing led by Goldman Sachs’ Urban Investment Group and Prudential Financial.

AeroFarms and RBH Group are building a state-of-the art 69,000-square-foot indoor vertical farm and global headquarters in a converted steel factory located at 212 Rome Street which is owned by RBH Group.

The first phase will open by the end of 2015, creating upon completion approximately 78 jobs in a local community with an unemployment rate that is twice the national average, according to a news release.

Shortly after the project's announcement in March, Rosenberg gave further details to www.freshfruitportal.com on what could be expected.

He said some 22 short-stemmed leafy greens would initially be grown at the site, with an emphasis on staples like spinach, kale and arugula. AeroFarms has grown more than 200 crops since 2004, according to Rosenberg.

For this project, AeroFarms has also partnered with the Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) to create a recruiting and job training program targeting local residents for both skilled and non-skilled roles.

"Today’s groundbreaking takes us one step closer to addressing the tremendous demand for our locally grown produce that is setting a new culinary standard for freshness and taste," Rosenberg said.

"We are excited to redefine not only the Garden State but also agriculture overall, and our goal is to increase access to healthier options by working with a wide-range of selling partners from retail to food service to farmers markets."

He added he was happy to build on the 'deep ties' AeroFarms had made within the Newark Community over the last four years, where a working vertical farm has been in the dining hall of Philip’s Academy Charter School, offering the shortest farm-to-table experience for the students and creating a better connection with how food is grown.

Beit said the new development would anchor RBH Group's "Makers Village" project in the Ironbound neighborhood to compete toe-to-toe with the Brooklyn Navy Yard with a superior cost structure and greater transmodal access.

"We are delighted to bring our elected officials and financial partners together to introduce AeroFarms, a farming and technology leader, to the City of Newark, creating jobs for local residents and greater access to locally grown produce for our city," he said.

Newark's Mayor Ras J. Baraka said the high-tech and environmentally friendly initiative was a win for everyone involved and would have a 'major impact' on the city's 'economic and physical' health.

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher highlighted the state's 'long agricultural tradition', saying it was not only know for its rich farmland and high-quality product, but also as a leader in new agricultural technologies.

"We welcome AeroFarms indoor vertical farming to the Garden State and have had the chance to see their impressive operation," he said.

"We look forward to their full-scale production of flavorful and healthy leafy greens year-round."

www.freshfruitportal.com