BrightFarms will stop operations at its hydroponic greenhouse in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, in March. This decision will result in the loss of 76 jobs. The company announced the closure of its Selinsgrove farm, citing the need to focus on newer, larger facilities.
“We have made the tough choice to suspend operations at our Selinsgrove farm. As BrightFarms expands with bigger farms, we are thankful for our Pennsylvania team and will help them during this transition. We remain dedicated to serving our Pennsylvania customers,” BrightFarms told LancasterFarming.com.
The 280,000-square-foot greenhouse, located in Pawling Station off Route 522, opened in 2020. BrightFarms, based in Irvington, N.Y., invested over $20 million in the facility, which was its largest at the time. The site was part of a Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone, exempting it from taxes until 2029.
The company was not required to give a 60-day notice under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act because the plant had fewer than 100 employees.
Snyder County Commissioner Joe Kantz highlighted some challenges the facility faced. These included high costs for off-site wastewater disposal and potential renovation needs. However, no formal discussions with local officials have taken place.
Employees were told to contact Jessica Soare, BrightFarms’ senior director of marketing, for media inquiries. An automated response indicated she was unavailable.
Advance Central PA will assist affected workers by providing information on reemployment, healthcare, and prescription assistance. CareerLink is also organizing a job fair in early March to help those impacted by the closure.
