Area 2 Farms Brings New Indoor Vertical Farm to Arlington

April 18, 2022 | By Cara O'Donnell

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A purple shamrock that tastes like apples and citrus. Wasabi arugula. Flower stems that are nearly as sweet as fresh honey. 

 

These are just a few of the specialty microgreens that can be found at Area 2 Farms, a new vertical indoor farm that recently opened its doors in Green Valley, just off South Four Mile Run Drive. The urban agriculture venture also grows more traditional produce, like salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries, to name a few. 

Area 2 Farms uses proprietary indoor growing technology that incorporates micro-robotics, and more efficiently manages heat and humidity, allowing the facility to produce hundreds of different crops —   while using 25% fewer LED lights than typical indoor farms. Because of this, all the food grown at the farm is not only nutrient-rich but sustainably grown as well. Area 2 Farms is a truly local farm for Arlington, directly serving the community within 10 miles of its location.  

At its recent unveiling event at its Arlington warehouse, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr presented the County with a $40,000 Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Grant for Area 2 Farms, which will be matched locally through funds from the Industrial Development Authority. 

Over the next three years, the project will create 30 new jobs, more than $1.8 million of new capital investment, and produce nearly $3.6 million of Virginia-grown leafy greens, herbs, root vegetables, alliums and fruits.  

“Agriculture is the original form of entrepreneurship,” said Area 2 Farms co-founder Oren Falkowitz.  

He’s got a point, and with a renewed focus on fresh, nutritional foods after so many were cooped up (and cooking more) during the pandemic, interest is strong from the local community. Area 2 Farms sells its produce via Consumer Shared Agriculture (CSA.) 

The venture also represents a new way to look at the business community in Arlington. Entrepreneurs like Falkowitz and Area 2 Farms represent a new and growing sector that brings diversification to Arlington’s economic community and allows for resiliency among commercial spaces throughout the county.