An organic leafy greens company is eyeing an 80-acre site at Shore Road and Frazier Lake Road for an indoor farming operation using hydroponic hoop houses and mobile robot tractors. Backed by Pescadero-based Hippo Harvest, which touts itself on its website as a "grower, packer and shipper of leafy greens," the proposal calls for developing a series of indoor farms on the site at 2370 Shore Road that could support up to 30 acres of hoop houses on 47 acres of developed land, along with up to 25 acres of outdoor row crops.
The project proposal calls for developing the site in four phases, starting with a four-acre first phase. Submitted in March last year, the proposal is undergoing environmental review, according to San Benito County senior planner Michael Kelly. Hippo Harvest CEO Eitan Marder-Eppstein said the company is interested in the location for a number of reasons.
"San Benito County has a lot going for it," he said, "great growing climate, strong agricultural heritage, and a community that is genuinely supportive of farming and local food production. We're excited about the potential to be part of that."
According to Hippo Harvest, it looks to "partner with local outdoor growers to combine the best of both indoor and outdoor production" including growing "sensitive varieties indoors during transition seasons" in an effort to "deliver high quality and reliable products year-round."
Read more at Benito Link
