Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
A Texas-based egg producer committed to ethical farming practices will open its first company-owned farm in Lawrence County later this year.
Vital Farms purchased 50 acres in Mitchell to start an operation that will house 20,000 birds. The expansion into Lawrence County is part of a $250 million investment in Indiana over the next two years. Vital Farms is building an egg washing and packing facility in Seymour that will open in 2027 and create more than 400 new jobs by mid-2027 and support 165 new family farms, as well as these new company-owned farms.
The Seymour Egg Central Station (ECS) is the company’s second ECS. It also has an ECS in Springfield, Missouri.
Vital Farms began in 2007 with a single flock of 20 Rhode Island Reds and has grown to a national consumer brand that works with more than 500 small farms. Today, Vital Farms is the leading U.S. brand of pasture-raised eggs by retail dollar sales. According to information from the company, its products, including shell eggs, butter, hard-boiled eggs, and liquid whole eggs, are available in more than 23,000 stores nationwide.
“We’re excited about Vital Farms joining the Lawrence County business community,” said Dan Bortner, CEO of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council. “We’re looking forward to helping them in any way we can to be successful.”
The Lawrence County farm is one of Vital Farms’ first company-owned farms and is part of a planned small network of what the company calls “Accelerator Farms” that will support research and sustainable practices designed to benefit the future of small American family farmers for generations to come.
The company’s philosophy is to improve the lives of people, animals, and the planet through food with a focus on the humane treatment of farm animals and sustainable farming practices.
Erik Evensen, General Manager, Accelerator Farms, talked to Southern Indiana Business Report about the Mitchell operation, this new investment in southern Indiana and its commitment to sustainable agriculture.
Will the Mitchell farm be operated by Vital Farms or a local farmer?
Vital Farms will operate the Mitchell, Indiana, farm, and plans to operate a limited number of additional company-owned farms in Indiana and Kentucky. These operations will serve as a research and development hub for Vital Farms to advance sustainable farming practices to continue to raise the standards in the industry.
How many employees will work at the farm?
The farm will be managed by a dedicated team of three full-time staff members, with support from additional management, maintenance, and compliance specialists who help support all farms within the Vital Farms network.
What about Lawrence County made it a good fit for this Vital Farms expansion?
Vital Farms has planted roots in Southern Indiana, including Lawrence County, because of the area’s rich agricultural history and opportunities for rural development. Moreover, city and county leaders, as well as our new neighbors have been nothing but welcoming since we broke ground, thanks to the strong agricultural mindset shared by residents and local officials. Additionally, Lawrence County’s proximity to our new facility in Seymour further reinforced the decision to build a lasting presence in the area.
Are you seeing increased consumer demand for your product?
Vital Farms continues to experience growing consumer demand for its eggs, driven by its innovative business model and efforts to increase awareness. To meet this demand, the company is continuing to invest in its resilient supply chain. In early 2025, Vital Farms announced the installation plans for new state-of-the-art equipment at Egg Central Station in Springfield, Missouri, which is estimated to increase capacity by 30% at the facility, and is expected to be fully operational in Q4 2025. Construction has also begun on its second facility, ECS Seymour, which is expected to be operational by early 2027. ECS Seymour is projected to add over $350 million in revenue capacity once fully operational.
Southern Indiana has a strong agricultural economy. In the Radius Indiana region there are poultry companies in Daviess and Dubois counties. Was the strong presence of poultry producers and processing facilities in Southern Indiana a contributing factor in choosing Lawrence County?
Lawrence County was an ideal destination for Vital Farms’ first company-owned farm for many reasons, including the community’s strong agricultural mindset and high level of diverse vegetation, which is ideal for our hens to thrive in fresh air and sunshine throughout the year.