MCFARLAND, Calif. KERO — A new state-of-the-art facility has finally opened in the city of McFarland. The Discovery Center will serve as a hub for innovation, development and breeding of new plant varieties.
- The new discovery center is located on the outskirts of McFarland. 160 acres are dedicated to agricultural research and development.
- Equipped with laboratory space and greenhouses, the new facility will serve as a center for innovation, development and breeding of new plant varieties and will contribute to agricultural progress.
- Not only does this building provide space for fresh, creative ideas, it also offers the opportunity to stimulate the city’s economic growth by creating more jobs.
Here in McFarland, more than 150 acres have been set aside for agricultural research and development, and the facility promises to foster creativity and innovation.
The Discovery Center is changing the future of agriculture, one grape at a time.
On Tuesday morning, McFarland’s new Discovery Center was filled with California gardeners, Bloom Fresh representatives and community members to celebrate a project about three years in the making.
What used to be farmland is now a 2500 m² facility with greenhouses, laboratory space and 65 hectares to take wine growing to the next level.
“We want to bring new grape varieties to market that encourage people to eat more fruit and enjoy grapes in new ways. The Cotton Candy grapes were developed here in Kern County and are a great example of that,” said Fiachra Moloney, Chief Marketing Officer of Bloom Fresh.
The goal is to create a healthier, tastier and more sustainable future, says Moloney.
To achieve this, employees have the opportunity to work at the intersection of all-natural flavors to truly change the way people consume fruit.
According to Bloom Fresh, attendees included growers from 18 different countries, but David Espinoza of Hronis Inc. in Delano says the event is also of great importance to local growers.
“I can come here and see the new varieties, touch them, taste them, smell them. So it’s great to have them here,” Espinoza said. “I don’t have to travel to Chile, Peru, Spain or South Africa to get the same thing we have here locally in McFarland.”
Moloney says location-wise, McFarland is ideal because Kern County is known for its agriculture and now that they have a foothold there, they are ready to shape the future of grape production.
“This desert sun is a good climate for growing wine because grapes love the sun. There’s really a lot of talent and expertise here, so it’s really the perfect place for us,” Moloney said.
The facility has so far hired 120 employees and is continuing to expand. Information on job openings can be found here.
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