CEA

Former Amazon exec joins Local Bounti as CEO

Former Freshly CEO and Amazon executive Anna Fabrega is joining greenhouse-vertical farm grower Local Bounti as CEO. The company’s co-founders and co-CEOS, Craig Hurlbert and Travis Joyner, will take on new roles as senior vice... more »

Mastronardi, InterGrow partner in New York state

Mastronardi Produce, a fourth-generation family-owned commercial greenhouse grower, is expanding its U.S. network through a joint venture with Intergrow Greenhouses. Mastronardi will acquire Integrow’s greenhouse facilities and trucking business in New York state. The new... more »

University of California indoor farming survey seeks grower input

University of California researchers are seeking grower input on emerging controlled environment agriculture (CEA) trends. Greenhouse operators are encouraged to participate in the 2023 State of Controlled Environment Agriculture survey. IUNU, a technology company that... more »

CEA Alliance expands membership

New board members have been elected to the Controlled Environment Agriculture Alliance (CEA). The association, which represents vertical farms and greenhouse producers growing fruits and vegetables in controlled indoor production environments, welcomed eight new members... more »

CEA solutions provider AdeptAg acquires automation firm

AdeptAg, the North American leader in controlled environment production solutions, has acquired Bellpark Horticulture. With the addition of Bellpark, Oberlin, Ohio-based AdeptAg expands its product offerings, sales and support further into the automated horticulture systems... more »

CEA Food Safety Coalition expands mission

The CEA Food Safety Coalition, founded in 2019 to develop industrywide food safety standards for indoor leafy greens growers, is expanding its mission to serve the broader needs of all controlled environment food growers. “With... more »

USDA awards $3.77million grant for CEA research

The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is leading a research and development project to help greenhouse growers create the most ideal growing environment using real-time data and climate optimization... more »

Creating community at Henry’s Family Farm

Toussaint and Kenesha Henry, owners of Henry’s Family Farm in Fayetteville, Tennessee, bought their farm in 2020 and quickly became a source of local and fresh food through their Community Supported Agriculture subscription and local farmers markets. They... more »

Indoor farming seminar emphasizes sustainability

A web seminar on indoor farming systems will emphasize their value as sustainable food systems. The hour-long seminar, 2 p.m. Eastern, Sept. 8, is sponsored by SmartBrief, and features Rick Vanzura, CEO of Freight Farms,... more »

Fresh produce association forms CEA leadership council

The International Fresh Produce Association is forming a leadership council focused on Controlled Environment Agriculture. The volunteer council, led by Abby Prior, chief commercial officer at Bright Farms, and Vonnie Estes, vice president of agfood... more »