AeroFarms expands Newark headquarters

Vertical farming company AeroFarms is expanding operations at its Newark headquarters by adding 25,000 square feet to its footprint for office space and research and development, according to an April 23 announcement.

“We are scaling farms around the world, partnering closely with major multi-national retailers, and our newly expanded global headquarters will be a showcase for our transformative work and innovation that will further drive our mission to grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity,” reads a statement from David Rosenberg, the company’s co-founder and chief executive officer.

The company was awarded a $6.5 million tax break from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to move its headquarters to Newark from the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York, bringing with it 75 year-round jobs.

Its since doubled that workforce size, according to the Friday announcement. And, in recent months has focused on R&D for a variety of crops that could be grown and cultivated indoors.

Aerofams was also behind the set-up of 10 indoor vertical farming sites across Jersey City last year, which grow 19,000 pounds of vegetables on an annual basis that is “provided to the community for no cost.”