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By Myrna Trauntvein
TN Correspondent

Equilibrium Capital and Houweling’s Group have begun land preparation for a 30-acre expansion of the greenhouse project west of Mona.

“I have exciting news, we have broken ground,” said Travis Jones, General Manager for Houweling’s Tomatoes Utah. “The expansion is expected to begin production in 2022.”

He said that, at some point, when things were somewhat back to normal after COVID 19, he hoped that they would be able to have an official grand opening and dedication of the new facility.

“I hope we can do an open house,” he said.

He and David Bell, CMO, recently released information for expansion of the plant located near Mona which Jones shared with members of the Mona City Council on Tuesday.

He also looked forward to taking groups on tours of the already constructed portion of the greenhouse.

“The expansion will allow Houweling’s to further expand it’s offering of fresh 365-day-a-year produce to Utah and the great Rocky Mountain Region.

“Our decision to expand the Mona site reflects our long-term commitment to building a North American ag-tech projection cluster in Utah,” said David Chen, CEO of Equilibrium Capital, in a press release that Jones shared with the city council.

Equilibrium Capital Group innovates and manages sustainability-driven businesses and the deployment of capital within the sustainable real asset and infrastructure spaces such as controlled environment foods, carbon transition infrastructure and climate adaptation and resilience infrastructure.

The firm has offices in Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; and London, England.

Mona is an industry-first farm, said Jones, which takes heat and CO2 from the Clover Creek Power Plant next door.

“From seed selection through growing, nurturing, harvesting, packing, shipping and servicing customers, we are a leader in the North American greenhouse sector,” said Jones.

“Are you going to need water to use during the construction phase?” asked Mike Stringer, council member.

“As of now,” said Jones, “we have enough.”

Condie Construction was working on site and had sufficient water from Houweling’s.

Bill Mills, mayor, said that the solar plant construction had been hauling 10,000 gallons a day from Mona to their site.

“What about traffic?” asked Mills.

The second expansion shouldn’t increase the traffic from the labor force by much, Jones said. He said that the workers arrived by bus and carpooled to the greenhouse.

“What about semi trucks?” asked Jones. “That will put more traffic on 200 North and on our roads. That will be how you get the tomatoes to market.”

They may add cucumbers to tomatoes to be grown in the greenhouse when the second plant comes online.

“I think they are tasty cukes,” said Frank Riding, council member.

Mills said, however, that he would prefer bell peppers which were not on the greenhouse menu.

“We do want to thank you for what you have done since you have come on board,” said Mills. “You have accomplished a lot in building goodwill.”

Jones had Houweling’s donate basketballs and helped with funds for the construction of the basketball court.

“It is appreciated,” said Mills.

“I am quite excited to have the public able to see the facility and to have tours,” said Amy Stanley, council member.

She said the greenhouse was doing a lot to be a good neighbor and to create sustainability--they were taking exhaust from the Clover Creek Power Plan, were using recycled water, and were working on taking the coconut husk growing medium to worm farms.

She said she was looking forward to phase two being completed and being able to have school children take tours.

The greenhouse uses coco grow bags (made from coconut fiber) that hold less water and are porous in nature. This helps in the right growth of the plants. Excess water will be drained off.

Coconut coir can be used as the growing medium for both seedlings and mature plants, as rooting mats and for rooting cuttings.

“We pay careful attention to the moisture level during the growing process,” said Jones.