Agriculture is undergoing a remarkable transformation through the development of highly efficient, highly effective hydroponics farms.
One of the leading companies in this space is Vertical Harvest Farms. Based out of Jackson, Wyoming, Vertical Harvest’s first hydroponic vertical farm farm started in Jackson and has been growing food since 2016.
In this article, we will delve into the practices and philosophy that make Vertical Harvest Farms a pioneer in sustainable farming with an emphasis on the company’s commitment to efficiency, sustainability, and community impact.
Vertical Harvest’s Company Philosophy
Vertical Harvest Farms has set out to bring hydroponic farms to urban spaces. Founded on the principles of sustainability and innovation, the company’s mission is to address the global challenges of food security and environmental impact by bringing agriculture into the heart of cities.
By embracing vertical farming, Vertical Harvest Farms is maximizing the potential of limited space and reimagining what is possible in urban agriculture.
Innovative Vertical Farming Techniques
In addition to growing vertically, Vertical Harvest Farms leverages principles of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for its hydroponics farms.
Growing vertically allows crops to be grown in stacked layers which optimizes space utilization and increases overall production capacity per square foot.
CEA practices mean light, temperature, humidity, and nutrient delivery are carefully controlled in an indoor environment. This setup creates the ideal growing conditions for a wide range of crops throughout the year.
Vertical Harvest’s hydroponic approach ensures consistent, high-quality yields while reducing water usage and minimizing the need for pesticides.
The company claims an 85% reduction in water usage for its Wyoming farm as compared to traditional soil-based agriculture.
Sustainable and Efficient Farming Practices
At the core of Vertical Harvest Farms’ operations lies a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
The company significantly reduces its ecological footprint by maximizing natural sunlight, implementing resource-efficient systems, such as water recycling, and utilizing efficient LED lighting.
The integration of energy-saving technologies, and sustainable agricultural practices, allows Vertical Harvest Farms to produce food with a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional farming methods.
This focus on sustainability not only benefits the environment but also sets a new standard for responsible farming practices.
Community Impact
Vertical Harvest’s impact on the Jackson community goes beyond simply providing fresh greens. The company has pioneered an innovative employment model they call the “Grow Well Model“.
The Grow Well Model represents Vertical Harvest’s unique approach to employment.
This model aims to educate and empower individuals of all abilities within the workplace and their community while cultivating a culture of equity and inclusivity.
The Grow Well Model focuses on three key areas:
- Professional Development (Work Well)
- Personal Discovery (Be Well)
- Community Impact (Do Well)
According to Caroline Croft Estay, Vertical Harvest Co-Founder and Director of Diversity and Inclusion, “these components unite to form a supportive base that encourages self-discovery, fosters community connections, and allows individuals to define an upwardly mobile career path through personal and professional goals.”
I can’t help but think this creates a massive win-win for the business, employees, and broader community.
The company’s mission to hire individuals with diverse abilities has not gone unnoticed. It was recently honored at the 17th Annual Disability Matters North America Conference for its commitment to disability inclusion.
Vertical Harvest’s Agriculture Operations
Vertical Harvest Farms currently has one operational farm located in Jackson, Wyoming. According to the company, the Jackson location has the distinction of being the first vertical farm in the northern hemisphere! Pretty cool!
The Jackson farm cultivates a diverse range of crops, including tomatoes, butterhead lettuce, rainbow chard, various specialty lettuces, and an assortment of microgreens.
If you’ve been to Jackson, you know the winters are long and cold. I just love the idea of fresh greens growing in THAT climate year around.
The farm has been operating since 2016 and distributes to 80 locations across three states.
One of the major benefits of vertical farms is growing where the food is consumed. Doing so greatly lowers the environmental impact of trucking produce from rural farms to urban centers.
To emphasize this point, Vertical Harvest has a really interesting statistic on its website to quantify the environmental impact of growing produce near where it is consumed. They say its farm “Replaces 100,000 pounds of produce formerly trucked into the community.” Wow!
In my opinion, this is a large value proposition of the vertical farms industry. And, being able to quantify it in such a way really paints a positive picture.
Vertical Harvest’s Expansion Plans
Vertical Harvest has big expansion plans.
Two more vertical farms are under construction in Westbrook, Maine and Detroit, Michigan.
The Maine farm will be housed in a four-story, 52,000 square foot building. Once fully operational, it will produce 2 million pounds of produce annually!
According to a local article on the new project, “90 percent of the food Mainers eat comes from out of state. When talking specifically about leafy green vegetables, that number is even higher.”
Maine sounds like it is the perfect market for indoor hydroponic farms.
Vertical Harvest also has another facility under construction in Detroit, Michigan. This location is set to open in 2025. This farm will be 60,000+ square feet and will also be able to produce 2 million pounds of food per year.
Conclusion
Vertical Harvest Farms represents a great example of sustainable agriculture harnessing the power of vertical farming to address the challenges of food production in urban settings.
With its innovative techniques, focus on sustainability, and dedication to community impact, it is leading the way toward a resilient, efficient, and accessible food system.
Vertical Harvest Farms is demonstrating that sustainable farming practices can create positive social and environmental change offering hope for a future where food production is in harmony with our planet’s resources.
