Northhampton News

This week Gov. Tom Wolf was joined by Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding to tour Bowery Farming’s new vertical farm in Bethlehem, which serves to be an excellent job creator and supplier of food for millions of residents.

A release on May 26 said that this was a chance for Wolf to highlight his investment in the farm that is poised to create 70 well-paying jobs and feed 50 million people within a 200-mile radius. This farm is the largest vertical farming company in the country and the new farm in Bethlehem is its largest, most technologically advanced, stable farm. The Governor’s Action Team has been working with Bowery to set up its first farm in Pennsylvania farm Lehigh Valley. The farm received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development for $210,000 through a Pennsylvania First grant. Also, they received a $250,000 Enterprise Zone Tax Credit through the Neighborhood Assistance Program. This has led to Bowery building a 150,000 square foot facility on an 8.7-acre lot that will create and retain the 70 jobs over the next three years. Bowery has pledged to invest at least $30 million into the project.

“My investment in Bowery Farming supports economic revitalization for Bethlehem, creates jobs, and improves food security,” said Wolf. “Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry is well known for its innovation, and Bowery will help us to continue charting a path for a sustainable, food-secure future.”

Agriculture is a huge part of Pennsylvania’s economy. The industry pumps $132.5 billion into the state economy and supports 590,000 jobs. The Pennsylvania Farm Bill was signed by Wolf in 2019 and since then it has invested more than $53 million into the agricultural industry.

“Food security is defined as the availability, affordability, and accessibility of food. At a time when we’re all—consumers and growers alike—hurting from inflation and increasing prices, we must support the agriculture industry in new and diverse ways to ensure food security,” said Redding. “The governor’s investment in Bowery acknowledges and acts upon this need. It’s one more sign of his steadfast support for the industry that sustains us all.”