Mucci Farms project moving forward

HURON — Workers planted the proverbial seeds so a $70 million high-tech agricultural company can sprout up from barren farmland near BGSU Firelands.Earlier this month, surveying work started to begin developing a massive farming operation — which consists of building hydroponic greenhouses, a warehouse, distribution center and office space — on a 95-acre plot near East Bogart and Rye Beach roads in Huron.First announced in September, the privately funded project overseen by Canadian-based corporation Mucci Farms calls for creating at least 200 jobs and paying an average worker about $18 an hour. The Huron location marks Mucci Farms' first U.S. base.Many legal complications pushed the project's start date back several months. Local officials, however, remain optimistic about the greenhouses going live before year's end."We are excited about this next step for Mucci Farms and their continued interest in our region," said Abbey Bemis, executive director for the Erie County Economic Development Corp.Earlier this month, surveying work began to develop barren farmland in Huron into a $70 million greenhouse operation overseen by a Canadian-based company called Mucci (pronounced moo-chee) Farms. The high-tech agricultural company grows non-GMO produce and specializes in products such as tomatoes, which grow in its massive greenhouses.Fleshing out the farm dealThrough past and new reporting, here are the project's known details:Q: What is Mucci Farms?A: Since the 1960s, Mucci (pronounced moo-chee) Farms has grown non-GMO produce — specializing in tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants and strawberries — inside factory-size greenhouses.A sophisticated, high-wattage lighting system helps products, in about a year's time, evolve from tiny seeds to fully grown crops dangling off 47-foot vines.Mucci Farms, headquartered in Kingsville, Ontario, directly north of Pelee Island, sells its hydroponic crops — a process incorporating mineral nutrient solutions in water and not soil — to wholesalers and major corporations, such as Kroger, Trader Joe's, Costco, Wal-Mart and others."The whole locally grown concept has really taken off," company CEO Bert Mucci previously told the Register. "That is what the wholesalers and retailers want."Q: Why would Mucci Farms want to locate a base in Huron?A: Bert Mucci explained why Huron represents the perfect location for a U.S. base."It's a unique opportunity for us because of (Huron's) proximity to our markets and our headquarters," Mucci said. "About 65 percent of our production right now is delivered across the border (from Canada to the U.S.). Because of that, being in the U.S. is really attractive to us."Originally intended as a $100 million investment, Mucci executives scaled the project down to about $70 million.Earlier this month, surveying work began to develop barren farmland in Huron into a $70 million greenhouse operation overseen by a Canadian-based company called Mucci (pronounced moo-chee) Farms. The high-tech agricultural company grows non-GMO produce and specializes in products such as tomatoes, which grow in its massive greenhouses.Q: Are there any other reasons Mucci is coming to Huron?A: Mucci Farms came to the city because Huron Public Power could promise the company the least expensive electric rate for the greenhouses."Huron's publicly managed utility company can provide Mucci with extremely affordable electric rates associated with a large volume of consumption associated with greenhouse-grow lights," city manager Andy White said.Q: Who would benefit from this deal?A: Several entities stand to reap the windfalls of a $70 million investment.For starters, Huron Schools would receive an injection of property tax money from new development.Additionally, BGSU Firelands students could also enroll in special agricultural classes, learning firsthand how a specialized greenhouse operates.The 200 initial jobs created would also lower unemployment levels and no doubt stimulate the local economy, according to area officials.Plus retail giants purchasing Mucci-made produce would recognize Huron as a key location for their operations, a possible prelude to maybe even more development within the area.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Earlier this month, surveying work began to develop barren farmland in Huron into a $70 million greenhouse operation overseen by a Canadian-based company called Mucci (pronounced moo-chee) Farms. The high-tech agricultural company grows non-GMO produce and specializes in products such as cucumbers, which grow in its massive greenhouses.Mucci Farms, a Canadian-based, high-tech agricultural company, recently began surveying work to establish its first U.S. headquarters in Huron. The company is expected to invest about $70 million to develop greenhouses, which will grow produce, such as peppers, eventually sold to retailers such as Kroger and Walmart.