FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 13, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced another exciting step forward for the state’s agritech industry as Bosch Berries, an international grower and distributor of bell peppers, blackberries and strawberries, celebrated the grand opening of their new greenhouse operation in Pulaski County, a nearly $50 million investment that will create 28 full-time Kentucky jobs.
“Kentucky’s agritech sector continues to grow and gain momentum, providing high-wage jobs and incredible opportunities for families throughout the commonwealth,” Gov. Beshear said. “This is a significant next step for Bosch Berries as they open their first operation in the United States at their New Kentucky Home in Somerset. This project is a powerful testament to our workforce and access to resources Kentucky has to offer. I want to thank the company’s leadership for this incredible investment in southcentral Kentucky and look forward to their future success here for many years to come.”
Bosch Berries acquired a facility in Somerset to locate the company’s first greenhouse operation in the United States. The new operation will allow the company to implement new technologies to optimize growing efficiencies, reduce waste and gain access to the U.S. market. This summer, the company completed a retrofitting project that included upgrading the lighting system and enhancing the gutter system, allowing for a 25% increase in berry production. Currently, the facility has approximately 1.5 million plants, which were planted earlier this fall. This strategic initiative by Bosch Berries aligns with the company’s continued commitment to sustainable agriculture and economic growth and will serve as a steppingstone for future Bosch Berries’ greenhouse operations in the United States.
“Today, we take a moment to reflect on the incredible milestones we have achieved,” said Tijmen and Wouter van den Bosch, co-directors of Bosch Berries. “From integrating cutting-edge technology to advancing sustainable farming practices, this greenhouse represents the best of what we can achieve when we work together. It has created jobs, fostered innovation and set a new standard for responsible agriculture. Most importantly, it embodies our shared values and commitment to building a better future for our communities.”
Based out of the Netherlands, Bosch Berries is a sixth-generation family-farm operation founded in 1854 that specializes in growing and distributing bell peppers, blackberries and strawberries. The company has been involved with greenhouse cultivation since the 1930s and in 2017, ventured into greenhouse berry production, focusing on the production of year-round blackberries. Today, the company operates two greenhouses and looks forward to entering the U.S. market and growing the North American berry industry.
Pulaski County Judge/Executive Marshall Todd welcomes the company to the area: “When life hands you berries, you make the best of the situation. And in the case of Bosch Berries, Pulaski County government welcomes them and is very appreciative of their willingness to acquire the property formerly known as AppHarvest. My family and I have had the opportunity to enjoy their products and based simply on that, I feel that Bosch Berries will have a successful business model for years to come here in Pulaski County. We are glad they are our neighbors, and we hope that they will prosper in their new home and grow not only locally sourced products, but also community relationships we can cultivate for generations to come.”
Somerset Mayor Alan Keck looks forward to the company’s commitment to the community moving forward: “I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the Bosch Berries team as they further weave their agtech operation into the fabric of Somerset-Pulaski County’s economy. We are blessed to have this world-class facility in our community, led by a family with six generations of experience who will ensure produce will be grown in this greenhouse for decades to come.”
Chris Girdler, president and CEO of the Somerset-Pulaski County Economic Development Authority, highlighted the company’s extensive experience in the farming and agritech sector: “We are very excited about Bosch Berries investment in the capital of Lake Cumberland and encouraged by their continued growth and forward progress. They bring to bear many decades of farming experience and in particular indoor growing operations. It continues to be a privilege to work with Tijmen, Wouter and the entire Bosch team, and the future is very bright for everyone involved.”
Bosch Berries’ investment and job creation build on the best four-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,000 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling nearly $35 billion in announced investments, creating roughly 58,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $13.5 billion more than the next highest total.
The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. The average incentivized hourly wage in 2022 and 2023 topped $26 in consecutive years for the first time.
Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County; Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County; and INFAC North America’s $53 million investment in Taylor County, among others.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund, as well as the most jobs filled in state history. Last year, Kentucky set the record for the longest period with the lowest unemployment rates in state history.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
In March, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky third nationally and first in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2023 Governor’s Cup rankings. In April, Site Selection placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and in the top 10 nationally in its 2024 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear announced a Supply Kentucky initiative with the goal of boosting job growth, reducing costs and providing more security in the supply chains of our Kentucky companies. And last month, the Governor announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority in October 2023 preliminarily approved an incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program.
By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.
In addition, Bosch Berries can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.
For more information on Bosch Berries, visit boschberries.com.
A detailed community profile for Pulaski County can be viewed here.
More information on the Governor’s AgriTech Initiative is available at AgriTech.ky.gov.
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