OnePointOne, a Silicon Valley-based agriculture technology startup, is expanding its corporate and vertical farming production facilities to Avondale, which will create more than 70 jobs.
OnePointOne is building a technologically-advanced cultivation platform that uses innovations in automation, AI and plant science. Last year, the company launched Willo, a personalized vertical farming platform that’s designed to amplify human health.
“We are on a path to fundamentally rethink how plants are grown, utilized and optimized,” said Sam Bertram, CEO of OnePointOne, in a statement. “We are thrilled to be bringing that mission to Avondale and adding to their growing tech community.”
The company’s proprietary vertical farming technology uses 99% less land and water than traditional agriculture, and is 100% free of pesticides, herbicides and other harmful chemicals.
The new facility will be the production hub for Willo. The app gives members exclusive access to the farm and its tech and allows them to control their own farm share. Members can select crops, monitor their growth and enjoy the plants after delivery to their door.
As the first personalized farming program, Willo isn’t cheap. Customers can reserve their membership for the farm launching in the fall for $100 reservation fee. They will be able to choose either a weekly or biweekly delivery schedule. Signing up for a 12-month membership with a weekly delivery puts the cost at $100 per box, while a 12-month membership with a biweekly delivery costs $120 per box.
Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise said the city is excited about becoming a home for this new innovation in the agriculture industry, which has been so important to his city’s economy.
“As a city whose history is rooted in agriculture, OnePointOne’s approach to sustainable farming is bringing farming back to Avondale in ways that stretch beyond the imagination,” said Weise in a statement. “We can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.”
The company’s latest indoor vertical farm will be housed in a 50,000 square foot facility at 107th Industrial Park.