Leading Ag Science Company AgroFresh to Keep Division in Gainesville
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Following successful exit, former Verigo team will continue to tackle global food waste from the New American City
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – November 7, 2018 – Following its acquisition by Philadelphia-based AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGFS), Verigo’s business unit could have easily moved elsewhere. But AgroFresh, a global leader in produce freshness solutions, has decided to keep its newest division right here in Gainesville.
The Gainesville-based Verigo team has joined more than 300 new AgroFresh colleagues around the world in the company’s bold mission to provide breakthrough, end-to-end solutions that safeguard produce, prevent food waste and conserve the earth’s resources. The Verigo team will continue to operate as a division of AgroFresh at UF Innovate: The Hub, located between downtown Gainesville and the University of Florida campus, representing the retention of 10 high-wage jobs with expertise in software engineering, manufacturing and business development.
“Gainesville’s entrepreneurial spirit is as strong as ever. But just as important is our ability to grow and retain the businesses launched here, and AgroFresh’s decision to keep the Verigo team in place is a great indicator of just that ability,” said Staci Bertrand, Interim Senior Director of Economic Development at the newly renamed Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce. “There is a demonstrated trend of companies choosing to maintain and even grow their footprint in the Gainesville region, ultimately leading to more jobs and new capital investment into the community.”
As an emerging Gainesville-based startup, Verigo benefited from several local economic development resources, including CareerSource of North Central Florida’s STEM Ready grant program; UF Innovate: The Hub; Starter Space; the Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research; and the Export Gainesville Initiative, facilitated through the Greater Gainesville Chamber, Enterprise Florida and the US Commercial Service.
Verigo’s lead cofounder Adam Kinsey now serves as IoT Solutions Global Business Lead for AgroFresh. The Verigo offering powers AgroFresh’s revolutionary FreshCloud Transit Insights™ platform, which uses predictive data insights to provide quality assurance and supply chain management information.
“We are honored to welcome AgroFresh to the Greater Gainesville region and look forward to their continued growth here,” said Kevin Monroe, Chair of the Greater Gainesville Chamber’s Board of Directors.
“The region is privileged to have such an innovative startup like Verigo and now AgroFresh choose to stay in Gainesville,” said Bryan Harrington, Chair of the Greater Gainesville Chamber’s Economic Development Committee.
About the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce has been the voice of business in the Gainesville area since 1924. Representing over 1,300 members that employ more than 80,000 people, the Chamber is leading the effort to make the Gainesville region a global hub for talent, innovation and opportunity. The Chamber is 5-Star Accredited by the United States Chamber of Commerce, putting it in the top 1% of all Chambers nationwide. Learn more at www.GainesvilleChamber.com or call us at 352.334.7100.
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