MOREHEAD, Ky. — AppHarvest has named controlled environment agriculture veteran Tony Martin its new CEO, which the company said will help “accelerate its strategic plan.” The sustainable food company has made large investments in what they describe as high-tech indoor and climate resilient farming in Central Appalachia.

Martin has served as an AppHarvest board member since Oct. 2022 and as COO since January of this year. He joined AppHarvest following a 12-year career with Windset Farms, one of the largest controlled environment agriculture producers in North America. Martin has served as a consultant in the controlled environment agriculture sector. He is also on the board of the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation, a nonprofit that sets standards for the trade of fresh fruits and vegetables in Canada, as well as the board of Natureripe Famrs, the second largest strawberry producer in North America.

Tony Martin has been named the new CEO of AppHarvest. (AppHarvest)

Kevin Willis, who has served on the AppHarvest board since Feb. 2022, will assume the position of board chair. AppHarvest Founder Jonathan Webb is transitioning from his role as chairman and CEO to become chief strategy officer. He will remain on the board as a director.

“I founded AppHarvest based on a mission to improve domestic food security by farming more sustainably with climate-resilient practices while providing economic opportunity in Central Appalachia,” said Webb.

Project New Leaf, the strategic plan Martin is charged with executing, will focus on improving labor efficiency, cost control, building industry relationships, improving feeback and aligning the workforce to the five-year plan.

AppHarvest has invested heavily in Kentucky, building facilities across Appalachia. The company said its farms are designed to grow produce using sunshine, rainwater and up to 90% less water than open-field growing. AppHarvest said its farms can produce 30 times the yield of traditional agriculture while preventing polution from agricultural runoff.

The company has farms in Morehead, Berea, Somerset and Richmond.