ROCKINGHAM, VA - The field of organics is vastly growing to keep up with consumer demand, and Shenandoah Growers is striving to meet those needs as it expands its C-suite roster. Recently, the commercially advanced indoor ag company announced Dr. Tessa Pocock has joined the company as its newest Chief Science Officer. This appointment follows the transition of Robert Hoffman to CSO Emeritus, effective immediately.

“I am excited to join Shenandoah Growers’ Executive Leadership Team at such a pivotal moment for the company,” said Pocock. “I was attracted to the company’s ‘biology first, technology to scale’ mentality, and look forward to working closely with the team to continue to optimize our industry-leading indoor organic farms, world-class R&D, and data-driven lighting programs; all aligned with the approach of bringing nature indoors.”

Pocock brings decades of experience in plant lighting and physiological research, as well as indoor agricultural management, to Shenandoah Growers. She has held a variety of roles in academia and in the controlled environment agriculture sector, most recently as Director of Lighting Optimization at Plenty Unlimited Inc. Pocock holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Stress Biology and Master’s degrees in Plant Biochemistry and Biology from Western University (formerly The University of Western Ontario). She will report to Shenandoah Growers' Chief Technology Officer Ulf Jönsson and serve on the company’s Executive Leadership Team.

“Tessa is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost lighting and plant biology experts. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome her to our proven management team of biologists, technologists, and operators,” said Shenandoah Growers President Philip Karp. “As Shenandoah Growers enters our next phase of transformational growth, Tessa will bring an invaluable perspective, expertise, and vision on plant-driven intelligent grow systems to ensure we are well-positioned to capitalize on unmet market demand for sustainable, accessible, and organic herbs and produce.”

Shenandoah Growers leverages its biology and technology platform, national customer network, and distribution channels to deliver USDA certified organic herbs and leafy greens to more than 18,000 retailers nationwide. With superior unit economics, capital efficiency, market reach, and product offerings, Shenandoah Growers is poised to break a long-standing market compromise by delivering affordable USDA-certified organic produce, grown indoors and in soil, at scale.

According to the release, Pocock and Jönsson, an agronomy and horticulture technology expert, have set an ambitious research, development, and implementation agenda for Shenandoah Growers. Priorities include continuing to refine plant-intelligent lighting algorithms and technology to further reduce unit costs and boost energy efficiency; commercializing new crops to reach underserved markets; and continuing to optimize and expand the company’s IP portfolio, including its proprietary closed-loop nutrient regeneration technology, which enables efficient, low-cost, and organic nitrogen for plants. This proprietary technology is key to unlocking the company’s ability to deliver organic, indoor-grown produce at scale.

This recent appointment follows another strategic hire, Cameron Geiger as Chief Operating Officer. Geiger brings decades of senior experience in technology and end-to-end supply chain roles to the Shenandoah Growers Executive Leadership Team.

Congratulations to Dr. Tessa Pocock as she enters her new position!

Shenandoah Growers