A new greenhouse facility is set to bring as many as 150 jobs to Henderson County, with an investment that could total $69 million. Lakeside Produce plans to establish the largest greenhouse operation in North Carolina on land just outside Mills River.
In an announcement at Van Wingerden International Thursday afternoon, the Ontario-based company said that in an exhaustive search spanning from Virginia to Florida, it was Mills River that stood out.
Starting off at about 15 acres, the operation could grow to as many as 45 in the coming years, making it the largest greenhouse growing operation in the state, according to Mark Williams, executive director of Agribusiness Henderson County.
Chris Cervini, owner and CEO of Lakeside Produce, said it was not only the specific climate providing warm summer days and cool nights perfect for growing flavorful tomatoes that brought the company to the area. He also credited the work of Williams, AgHC and the wider community.
Latest from Produce Grower
- Fresh Express releases four new Chopped Salad Kits
- Orbia Netafim releases AI-powered Dosing 5G product range for precision fertigation
- Village Fresh Greenhouse Grown appoints Helen Aquino vice president of innovation
- Resource Innovation Institute and North Dakota State University explore co-location of data center and greenhouses
- When CapEx kills the farm
- Rethinking competition
- The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture sets 2026 federal policy focus
- 3 takeaways from Indoor Ag-Con’s ‘The State of CEA Finance’ keynote panel
