Newberry lands $75 million in AgTech investment

Newberry, Florida, is drawing $75 million in public and private investment tied to a new industrial hydroponic greenhouse, infrastructure upgrades and an AgTech entrepreneurship push at its F-300 AgFoodTech Innovation Park. The project is expected to bring more than 55 jobs and strengthen North Central Florida’s emerging food-innovation corridor.

Why it matters: - Newberry is using a mix of private capital, state funding and education partnerships to position itself as an AgTech hub in rural North Central Florida. - The investments are expected to add high-wage jobs, improve local infrastructure and expand year-round food production capacity. - Harvest Singularity’s project is designed to use less water and land than conventional farming while producing leafy greens and soft fruits closer to Florida markets.

What happened: - Newberry marked a groundbreaking at its 170-acre F-300 AgFoodTech Innovation Park. - The event highlighted approximately $69 million from Harvest Singularity and a $5.6 million public infrastructure grant from the Governor of Florida. - U.S. Congresswoman Kat Cammack delivered the keynote at the ceremony. - The city also pointed to a collaboration with the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship and a startup business accelerator as part of the park’s growth strategy.

The details: - Harvest Singularity, a Florida-based controlled environment agriculture company headquartered in Newberry, will build its first industrial-scale hydroponic greenhouse at the park. - The greenhouse will span 325,000 square feet. - The facility is expected to produce about 3.9 tons of premium leafy greens and soft fruits per day. - The greenhouse is expected to use about 2.8 MW of power, below the power demand of conventional cold-storage warehouse facilities that can require up to 10 MW. - The system is designed to support more than 20 harvests per year. - The project is designed to use up to 95% less water and about 94% less land than conventional farming. - The growing environment is designed to produce premium leafy greens and soft fruits without pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. - The first greenhouse is expected to create more than 55 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of about $91,000. - Harvest Singularity plans to build a network of 10 controlled-environment agriculture farm facilities in Florida. - The project site is near the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Alachua County Extension Office, which currently anchors the park. - The Florida Job Growth Grant will fund a roadway and utilities at the park. - NACCE selected Newberry for a pilot program that will support AgTech entrepreneurship among college students through an AI-powered entrepreneurship center. - The F-300 AgFoodTech Startup Business Accelerator graduated four companies from its Spring 2026 cohort.

Between the lines: - Newberry is pairing physical infrastructure with talent development, which suggests the city is trying to build a full AgTech ecosystem rather than attract a single project. - The park’s mix of greenhouse production, university links and startup programming could make it easier to recruit additional companies and workers. - Harvest Singularity’s expansion plan signals that Newberry may serve as a launch point for a broader Florida network. - Mayor Tim Marden said the city is building an agricultural innovation ecosystem with advanced technologies that modernize and strengthen production. - Charles A. Garza, CEO of Harvest Singularity, said the company wants to combine advanced greenhouse systems with Florida agriculture to produce fresh, high-quality food year-round while using land and water more efficiently. - Garza also said Newberry’s leadership, commitment to agricultural innovation and the resources around the park influenced the location decision. - Dr. Damian C. Adams, executive director of the UF/IFAS Office of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation, said the investment and grant are laying the groundwork to grow the AgTech sector in North Central Florida.

What's next: - Harvest Singularity is expected to move forward with construction of its first commercial greenhouse in Newberry. - Newberry will use the state grant to build the roadway and utilities needed for the park. - The city, UF/IFAS and education partners are expected to continue building the park’s innovation and workforce pipeline. - Harvest Singularity’s long-term Florida rollout will depend on execution at the first site and demand for additional facilities.

The bottom line: - Newberry is trying to turn a single greenhouse project into a broader AgTech cluster backed by public money, education partners and startup support.