Wednesday, June 14th 2017 - by Nathan Edwards

The Next Big Thing: Hydroponic and Aquaponic Greenhouse Farming

MIAMI VALLEY, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) - Greenhouse farming is expanding at a rapid rate, using hydroponic and aquaponic methods to grow produce.

Many believe it's the next big thing in farming.

Endless rows of carefully grown tomatoes are nurtured at golden fresh farms in Wapakoneta.

"You can see the consistency with the quality and size," VP Paul Mastronardi points out.

99 percent of the tomatoes in this massive greenhouse make it to the grocery store. That's 16 million pounds, enough to give everyone in Ohio and Kentucky a package of tomatoes.

"We are maximizing our yield per square meter," Mastronardi said.

What's the secret? Mastronardi said hydroponic farming.

Water is coursing through the pipes, keeping plants alive

"With the greenhouse environment we have more control over outside factors which helps us," Mastronardi said.

Famers monitor bees living near the plants, use gas to heat the floor on cold days and create sun light when there isn't any.

"One of the major benefits of growing in a greenhouse structure is that the consistency week in and week out is there," Mastronardi said.

The industry is rapidly expanding. In Wilmington, Bright Farms is planning a 10-million-dollar greenhouse, adding 30 jobs.

The hydroponic farm will grow lettuce, tomatoes, herbs and more.

Clinton County Commissioner Kerry Steed said they'll be the source of fresh produce for a hundred-mile radius.

"We're talking Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus regions in regard to fresh produce," Steed said.

A 2014 USDA study said Ohio already has more than 50 indoor farms. That number is growing.

On a much smaller scale at Oasis Aqua Farm in Beavercreek, Kimball Osborne and his wife Stephanie grow 20 different crops.

"The first thing that you'll see when you look around is there's no dirt," Osborne said.

This is considered aquaponic farming, where fish help the plants thrive.

"We feed the fish and the fish take care of the fertilizer and the plants in turn send the water back to the fish," Osborne said.

They create a sustainable ecosystem. In these tubs herbs and vegetables grow 30 percent faster than a traditional farm.

"I have everything in this greenhouse that I need other than the sun, so as long as the sun doesn't go away I should be good," Osborne said.

The Osborne’s plan to expand as the demand grows, selling both produce and fish directly to locals.

At Golden Fresh Farms, their tomatoes are already sold in most major grocery stores.

Now they're testing peppers, wanting to eventually add 80 acres to their facility.

"The future of the greenhouse industry in the United States is about to take off in the next 5 years," Mastronardi said.

He believes this will replace traditional farming, due to its efficiency, making it the next big thing.