Morehead, Kentucky-based AppHarvest has appointed controlled environment agriculture executive Tony Martin as an independent director of the company and a member of the audit committee, effective immediately.
Martin served as CFO for about 12 years at Windset Farms, one of the largest CEA producers and marketers of indoor-grown crops in North America, with more than 250 acres in the U.S. and Canada. At Windset, he supported infrastructure and revenue growth.
Martin currently serves as a consultant in the CEA sector and is a board member of the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Co., a nonprofit that sets standards for the trade of fresh fruits and vegetables in Canada.
“As AppHarvest focuses on improving core operations and diversifying its produce offerings with three new at-scale farms this year, I expect Tony’s depth of experience to help us optimize revenue generation,” said Jonathan Webb, founder and CEO.
Martin has filled a board seat vacated by Ciara Burnham.
“I believe it’s clear that AppHarvest is ripe for growth and poised to deliver on its potential. I am proud to support the innovative and expansive operations that Jonathan Webb and his team are building,” Martin said.
AppHarvest sells to the top 25 national grocery store outlets, as well as to select restaurants and food service providers through its distributor. AppHarvest’s farm has been harvesting since January 2021, and is expected to start harvesting its third season of tomatoes in the fourth quarter. The company expects to soon announce commercial shipments from its new 15-acre farm in Berea, Kentucky, a salad greens farm featuring a “touchless growing system” with autonomous harvesting.
AppHarvest is also continuing construction on its 60-acre Richmond, Kentucky, farm that will double the company’s capacity to grow tomatoes. Combined with the Morehead farm, the Richmond facility is expected to enable the company to grow about 1.5 million tomato plants per season. The AppHarvest Richmond farm also is expected to start operating before the end of 2022.
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