GrowSpan to Host Ribbon-Cutting Event for New Greenhouse
February 21, 2025 GrowSpan Greenhouse Structures announced the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art Venlo greenhouse at its Dyersville, Iowa, campus on Feb. 20. To celebrate this milestone, GrowSpan will host a ribbon-cutting event on Thursday, April 3, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. CST at 1440 Field of Dreams Way.
The event will feature a formal ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m. CST, followed by guided tours of the structure, providing attendees with a first-hand look at this new addition to GrowSpan’s greenhouse product line. Guests can also connect with industry professionals, enjoy refreshments, and purchase fresh produce grown on-site.
About the Venlo Greenhouse
GrowSpan’s Venlo greenhouse project represents years of research and development as well as significant investments made in manufacturing facilities and infrastructure. To date, the company’s Iowa campus has grown to over 60 acres in size, including recent updates to its production line totaling more than $13 million.
By expanding its product line to include the Venlo greenhouse, GrowSpan provides commercial growers with a large-scale alternative to traditional greenhouse structures. This underscores the company’s ability to meet the evolving demands of modern agriculture with industry-leading solutions.
Spanning nearly one acre, the facility boasts approximately 25,000 square feet of dedicated growing space. Its frame is constructed from hot-dipped galvanized steel, which is clad with 4 mm glass on all sides and employs motorized, cable-driven climate screens for total control over light diffusion and light restriction.
Partition walls are used to divide the growing space into three distinct zones, each one tailored to an individual crop type. In the first zone, lettuce grows in a deep-water cultivation system with above-ground ponds and polystyrene rafts. The second and third zones feature suspended gutter cultivation systems, incorporating drip irrigation with leachate collection to yield tomato and strawberry plants.
Additionally, the Venlo greenhouse is outfitted with the latest climate control equipment to allow for year-round, energy-efficient crop production. From horizontal airflow (HAF) fans and air handling unit (AHU) fans to vertical sliding windows, hydronic heating systems, and LED lighting, GrowSpan is able to customize and fine-tune the growing environment with precision.
The structure’s attached headhouse, designed with two levels, provides over 10,000 square feet of supplemental production space. The lower level houses rooms for harvesting and processing, mechanical equipment and storage, while its upper mezzanine level comes complete with an office, conference room and viewing platform to offer a panoramic look into the greenhouse’s three distinct growing zones.
With its large production space, GrowSpan can use the Venlo greenhouse to benefit surrounding communities across Eastern Iowa. In addition to supplying the area with large quantities of fresh produce, GrowSpan will host future tours for mid to large-scale growers, local schools and universities.
Growers, industry professionals and the public are invited to attend the grand opening event to explore the new greenhouse, meet GrowSpan’s experts and learn more about the latest advancements in controlled environment agriculture.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit: https://www.growspan.com/about-us/events/venlo-grand-opening/