Canada-based Nature Fresh Farms announced plans to begin construction on a 175-acre greenhouse facility in Delta, Ohio, in the spring of 2015.

“This is an exciting time for Nature Fresh Farms as we expand our operations to include a U.S. growing facility. This development will allow us to better serve our Ohio customers with locally grown produce year-round and continue to grow our U.S. operations,” says Peter Quiring, president.

Contingent upon acceptable levels of incentives from the State of Ohio and other government authorities as well as utility rates agreeable to Nature Fresh Farms, the company would be poised to ship its first case of vegetables in December 2015. The greenhouse project will be completed in several phases over the next seven years with a total investment approaching $200 million by the year 2022.

The Delta, Ohio, site was selected due to its easy access to current and future customers as well as proximity to the company’s headquarters. Nature Fresh Farms is also exploring a partnership with Northstar/Bluescope Steel, Delta, Ohio, to utilize carbon dioxide and waste heat from their operations. This innovative and environmentally beneficial partnership is said to be one of the first of its kind anywhere in the United States.