Indoor Arlington Farm Gets $40K Agricultural Grant From Virginia

ARLINGTON, VA — A new indoor farm in Arlington that uses micro-robotics and energy efficient lighting received a $40,000 agricultural grant from Virginia. The new indoor farm grows and sells organic produce, including leafy greens, herbs, root vegetables, alliums and fruits.

Area 2 Farms plans to create 30 new jobs and make more than $1.8 million of new capital investment in its Arlington operations over the next three years. The indoor farm will grow leafy greens, herbs, root vegetables, alliums and fruits.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with Arlington County to secure funding for Area 2 Farms. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin approved a $40,000 grant from the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, which Arlington County will match with local funds.

In 2021, Arlington County received its first-ever agriculture fund grant from the state, money that went to Fresh Impact Farms, an indoor growing facility on Langston Boulevard.

Former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam awarded an Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development grant to Arlington totaling $15,000 to be given to Fresh Impact Farms. The company received a total of $30,000 from the government, with Arlington County matching the state grant with local funds.

Tyler Baras, who serves as the chief scientific officer of Area 2 Farms, is the author of three books on indoor agriculture and has managed numerous indoor farms across the U.S. Nate Arias serves as head farmer at Area 2 Farms. He previously worked at greenhouses and farms across the country and has specialized in controlled environment agriculture.

Area 2 Farms uses proprietary indoor growing technology that incorporates micro-robotics and works to manage heat and humidity, allowing the facility to produce hundreds of different crops. The facility uses 25 percent fewer LED lights than typical indoor farms.

“I am very pleased to welcome Area 2 Farms to the 49th district,” Del. Alfonso Lopez said in a statement. "Forward-thinking entrepreneurs and farmers like Tyler Baras and Nate Arias are paving the way with innovations in agri-technology that are helping to lay the groundwork for sustainable food systems of the future.

“Community-supported agriculture — like the model that Area 2 Farms is pioneering here in South Arlington — is an excellent way to support independent, local farming and I wish them much success in the years to come,” Lopez said.

RELATED: Fresh Impact Farms Awarded Arlington's First Agriculture Grant