DANVILLE, Va. – AeroFarms will open its first Virginia facility in the Cane Creek Center, bringing 92 jobs to the Dan River region.

The company will invest $42 million to build a state-of-the-art indoor growing facility in Danville. The operation will be the largest vertical growing facility in the world. The 150,000 square foot facility will more than double the size of Aerofarms’ operations, which are based in Newark, New Jersey.

AeroFarms grows plants without sun or soil in a fully-controlled environment and has been in operation since 2004

Danville Del. Danny Marshall said the project received a $380,000 grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission, of which he is a member.

According to the company’s website, “AeroFarms patented, award-winning aeroponic technology provides the perfect conditions for healthy plants to thrive, taking indoor vertical farming to a new level of precision and productivity with minimal environmental impact and virtually zero risk.” The company says it uses 95% less water than field farmed-food with yields 390 times higher per square foot annually.

Their brand, Dream Greens, is a locally grown, pesticide-free produce that is grown year-round.