This news organization initially reported the concerns of local residents who said the greenhouse creating too much artificial light before sunrise. READ THE INITIAL REPORT HERE
Company officials told this news organization that the location was picked with the help of city officials because of its access off the highway and the remote location — away from residential areas. The company said the farm has “natural barriers of woodlots” on two sides of the facility.
Golden Fresh Farms, a Canadian-based division of Red Sun Farms, opened its $22.5 million, 20-acre greenhouse about an hour north of Dayton near Interstate 75 and U.S. 33.
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“One of the most important aspects of the Golden Fresh Farms project is its proof to other companies that Wapakoneta is the right location to choose. It has moved our West Central Ohio Industrial Center from a hypothetical to a real industrial park. We are confident it will help open the door to other major projects selecting Wapakoneta,” said Greg Myers, Wapakoneta economic development director.
The company said Golden Fresh uses lights at the facility beginning in the early morning until about 4 p.m., and the lights make it possible to ensure plant growth during cloudy days and winter months. The lights are not in operation 24 hours a day, the company said.
» RELATED: 16M pounds of tomatoes growing in new indoor facility north of Dayton
Wapakoneta Mayor Tom Stinebaugh said the city is happy to have the farm as part of the community.
“We could not be more pleased with the relationships we have formed with the owners, Lois Chibante and Paul Mastronardi,” he said. “I have personally spoken with dozens of our citizens, all of whom are thrilled that we have finally landed a ‘big fish’ for our industrial park. Although the city respects the views of all of our citizens, as usual we are hearing only the opinions of a few. On behalf of the great majority of our citizens, we are thrilled to have Golden Fresh Farms here in Wapakoneta.”
The completed facility would create 400 jobs with an annual payroll of $15 million. This first phase of the project will create 82 full-time jobs — 42 year-round and 40 seasonal — with an annual payroll of $2.9 million. Two more greenhouses are planned by 2018 with construction of the second one beginning this year.
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