AppHarvest Gets Approval of $113 Million Bid for AI-Run Tomatoes

AppHarvest Products LLC secured court approval of a $113 million opening credit bid from an affiliate of Equilibrium Sustainable Foods for two high-tech produce-growing facilities in Kentucky.

Under the deal, CEFF II AppHarvest Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Oregon-based Equilibrium, would acquire AppHarvest’s controlled environment agriculture facilities in Richmond and Morehead, Ky. AppHarvest will seek better offers at an Aug. 30 auction.

AppHarvest said it grows tomatoes at each of the facilities, which rely on robotics and artificial intelligence “to improve food systems.”

Judge David Jones of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas approved the deal ...