BEREA, Ky.— AppHarvest announced today it has started construction on a third high-tech controlled environment agriculture facility in Central Appalachia and is expanding into growing leafy greens. Located in Berea, KY, the farm, when complete, will be 15 acres.

The indoor facility will grow non-GMO, chemical pesticide-free leafy greens to be distributed to U.S. grocers and restaurants. American production is concentrated in Arizona and California, which combine to grow 90% of US-grown leafy greens. These states are in the midst of a decades-long drought and are consuming precious water resources.

By contrast, Central Appalachia, where AppHarvest is investing in building controlled environment agriculture facilities, has an abundance of rain. The facility in Berea, like AppHarvest’s other controlled environment agriculture facilities, will be designed to have its water needs met entirely by recycled rainwater using a closed-loop irrigation system where all water not absorbed by the plants is cleaned using sand and UV and then reused.

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