Early this summer, a listing popped up in my inbox for a "Founding Farm Crew Member." It was from a private company with no name attached and an unusual application process—honestly, I was a little skeptical at first. But after exchanging a few emails to confirm the details, I verified the role was legitimate and posted it.
What I didn't know yet was what this mystery farm was actually planning to grow.
Yesterday, the news officially broke: Vale Farms announced their plans to launch the first integrated, commercial-scale matcha growing and production operation in the United States—right here on Whidbey Island! (You can read the full announcement here.)
Vale Farms spans 365 acres, with 12,000 tea plants already in the ground. Their long-term vision is to cultivate roughly 200 acres—around one million plants in total. Beyond the fields, future plans feature a dedicated tea processing facility in Oak Harbor as well as an on-site tasting room.
As Vale Farms expands, their team will too. I’ll be keeping a close eye out for new job listings and will post them right here as soon as they become available!