A New Way of Farming Sprouts in Northern Kentucky
Method uses 100% renewable energy and 95% less water than traditional farming practices.
An Ohio-based company that revolutionized the concept of farming recently expanded into Northern Kentucky, and that has proven to be lucrative for residents, the local economy and beyond. Dubbed 80 Acres Farms, a company that is using vertical farming in Northern Kentucky, has created a successful agri-tech business doing the near-impossible.
It grows an abundance of crops year-round using 100% renewable energy and 95% less water than traditional farming practices. Plus, all its produce is grown indoors and without pesticides.
The company, which was founded in 2015, grows and delivers pesticide-free greens, herbs, fruits and vegetables, which are sold by retailers such as Whole Foods, Fresh Market and Kroger.
Meet the Future: Vertical Farming in Northern Kentucky
80 Acres Farms’ Boone County facility was announced in January 2022, and produce from the farm became available to the region in 2023. Even this $95 million facility has been a sustainable project, as the company repurposed an existing building for the 200,000-square-foot site.
Jed Portman, communications manager for 80 Acres Farms, says the farm is still coming online, even after the official opening, but when fully operational, it will create about 125 jobs in the area.
80 Acres Farms is the epitome of the type of business that area leaders want to usher into the county – one that relies on technologically advanced business practices, offers high-paying jobs and puts a healthy product on local shelves, says Gary Moore, judge/executive of Boone County. Moore has provided sustained leadership in an area that has been marked by growth in the last decade, with Boone County being awarded over 150 economic projects totaling $3.6 billion in capital investment during that time.
Moore offers a specific example of how 80 Acres Farms is bringing change to the area with two specific crops: basil and lettuce. These two items aren’t traditionally grown in the area, but now, residents can find these homegrown items in grocery stores throughout the Midwest.
“These are crops that can take up to two or two-and-a-half weeks to get to local grocery stores,” he says. “Now, our residents can find lettuce or basil from 80 Acres on the shelves at Kroger that was harvested just a day or two ago. That means fresher produce that lasts longer and provides more nutrients for us and our families.”
Northern Kentucky Offers the Perfect Location
From the perspective of 80 Acres Farms CEO Mike Zelkind, the company’s partnership with Boone County is a perfect match.
“For a Greater Cincinnati company that was already serving stores in the Lexington and Louisville areas, Kentucky made sense geographically,” Zelkind says. “But geography is only part of the equation, and Kentucky’s consistent support for innovative agriculture – at the local, regional and state levels – made our ambitious vision possible. What was an empty warehouse in Northern Kentucky is now our largest and most sophisticated farm yet.”
Moore, who visited the facility, says he was extremely impressed with the technology and high standards he witnessed while there.
“Boone County is home to many innovative businesses that help improve the daily lives of the people that live, work and visit our county,” he says. “80 Acres was – and is – an excellent fit for our county. They are a growing company continuing to bring innovation to the agri-tech space.”
Moore further notes that the company will positively affect multiple areas, not just Boone County.
“Boone County is centrally located in the Midwest,” he says. “The impact of a company like 80 Acres extends outside of just our immediate Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region. Consumers in many states will have better access to high-quality, fresh produce to feed their families.”
Portman also expects the company to continue to grow.
“As far as new farms go, our next priority is finishing our 200,000- square-foot farm outside Atlanta, which is slated to open in 2024,” he says. “We have not announced any other farm openings. That said, we’re seeing massive demand for fresh, local, pesticide-free produce – no surprise there – and recognize that we will need to keep expanding our capacity.”
Get to Know Northern Kentucky
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