Ag-Tech Grows in Newberry: Harvest Singularity Announces Investment of $66 Million in Newberry

The City of Newberry welcomes Harvest Singularity Holding Co. as the first private sector company to enter the F-300 AgFoodTech Innovation Park. The company is investing $66 million to construct a 100% controlled environment, industrial hydroponic greenhouse in Newberry's Ag-Tech Park. The greenhouse is projected to produce over 3 tons of leafy greens daily. This project establishes Newberry as a premier location for agriculture and food technology companies moving forward while strengthening Florida’s food security.

Harvest Singularity is expected to create over 50 full-time direct new jobs, paying an average annual wage of $91,000. The 325,000-square-foot building will utilize state-of-the-art precision agriculture technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, sensors, and automation. Annually, this will produce 20-26 harvests of leafy greens per year, using 95% less water and 94% less land than conventional farming, without the use of any pesticides.

“Harvest Singularity’s vision to open a 325,000 square foot industrial hydroponic greenhouse farm facility here in Newberry is about modernizing agriculture,” said State Representative Chad Johnson (District 22). “I am and will continue to be a staunch supporter of traditional Ag, however, as more people move to Newberry, North Central Florida, and throughout the state over the coming years, it is important that we produce more food in Florida. I applaud this project and look forward to seeing it in operation,” added Rep. Johnson.

“Newberry is excited to see the AgFoodTech Innovation Park grow with visionary business leaders and private sector capital. Our City believes in agriculture and laid the groundwork for this transformative project. At $2.7M, we have literally put our money where our mouth is.” said Newberry Mayor Tim Marden.

“Harvest Singularity’s headquarters will create good jobs, bring capital investment, and expand Newberry’s tax base. This will benefit our residents and strengthen our City’s economic foundation. I am delighted Harvest chose Newberry,” noted Mayor Marden.

“Harvest Singularity is thrilled to call Newberry home for its first 100% climate-controlled industrial hydroponic greenhouse farm to meet the strong demand for leafy greens. Newberry is a warm and wonderful community with business-friendly government officials providing outstanding support,” said Charles A. Garza, CEO of Harvest Singularity.

“The AgFoodTech Innovation Park is an ideal location as we will be co-located with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Alachua County Extension Office. We envision collaborating with UF/IFAS on projects. Our vision is to build multiple industrial-scale farm facilities in Florida growing organic leafy greens and fruit without pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides,” added Mr. Garza. Harvest Singularity and its project partners from the United States and the Netherlands plan to build a network of controlled environment agriculture farm facilities in Florida.

Benefits of these advanced farms include the following: locally grown produce; harvests at peak growth; product traceability from seed to plate; energy-efficient production; supply chain stability; local distribution; and reduced spoilage and food waste.

“Florida is positioned to become the Silicon Valley of Agriculture. Artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and other advanced technologies will be crucial to agriculture continuing as a $300-billion-plus driver of Florida’s economy,” noted Dr. J. Scott Angle, University of Florida Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

“Harvest Singularity’s impressive vision will help transform agriculture and promote rural renaissance in Florida. UF/IFAS conducts exceptional research in greenhouse and hydroponic crops and values collaboration with industry. We are delighted to see Harvest come to Newberry’s F-300 AgFoodTech Innovation Park and contribute to Florida’s agriculture and food technology ecosystem,” added Angle.

About Harvest Singularity

Harvest Singularity is a privately owned Florida-based company committed to sustainable industrial agriculture. Harvest will build and operate modern industrial 100% controlled environment agriculture (CEA) hydroponic greenhouses, positioned to meet the demand for premium leafy greens and fruits in Florida. Harvest aims to bring high-tech farming to Florida and to make Florida the national leader in industrial 100% CEA hydroponic greenhouse farming. In its first phase of project development, Harvest Singularity will initially invest in 10 CEA greenhouses throughout the state of Florida that will grow leafy greens, tomatoes, and strawberries. Learn more at harvestsingularity.com

About the City of Newberry
Newberry is a fast-growing city in Florida. A charming and warm community nestled in the heart of North Central Florida, Newberry has a 100+ year history in agriculture and hosts America’s longest-running watermelon festival. Newberry is building an agricultural and food technology innovation ecosystem that benefits producers and consumers. Its 170+ acre F-300 AgFoodTech Innovation Park is home to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension office in Alachua County.