Chanhassen, Minnesota Man Co-Founded One of The Largest Indoor Farms
Chanhassen, Minnesota Man Co-Founded One of The Largest Indoor Farms
- unsie zuege
-
- Apr 26, 2018
Recently, salad lovers couldn't help feeling queasy after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that consumers throw out all their romaine lettuce — whole heads, hearts of romaine and bags of chopped romaine and salad mixes — after people across 16 states were sickened by e.coli after eating lettuce grown in Yuma, Arizona.
The CDC also warned consumers to avoid romaine at restaurants unless the establishment can confirm that the lettuce is not from Yuma.
Food safety is one issue that's making Dave Augustine's company, Living Greens Farms, a star in the produce department of local supermarkets like Lunds & Byerly's.
If you haven't heard about it, you will after strolling through your local grocery store, co-op and big box grocer. Living Greens Farm is located in Faribault and considered one of the largest indoor farms in the world. Augustine is a longtime Chanhassen resident, entrepreneur, and engineer.
According to its website, "Living Greens Farm is a vertical, indoor grower of high-quality fresh lettuce, herbs, and microgreens ... Starting with natural seeds and providing plants high levels of oxygen, they absorb ... rich nutrients for exceptional flavor and texture ... the result is fresh, safe products with delightful flavor profiles."
Sounds delicious.
We gave Augustine a call to learn more about him and his company, where he serves as executive vice president.
Q: How did Fresh Greens start? How did you get this brainstorm?
A: My financial advisor Dana Anderson told me about an indoor garden he had in his garage where he was growing lettuce. I drove over to his house to take a look. We started talking and playing with available technology — I have an electrical engineering background and an MBA — and developed a unique way to grow leafy greens and lettuce. We started the company informally in 2010 and became a more formal company in 2012. We're looking to expand first in the U.S., but I was in China recently meeting with an investor.
Q: Describe the indoor farm facility in Faribault.
A: We grow the produce aeroponically — a method of growing plants by suspending their roots in the air — to grow lettuce, herbs, and microgreens. Rather than using soil, plants are sprayed with a nutrient-rich solution. This way, we use only 5 percent as much water and only 1/200th of land than outdoor farms. We have 15 employees. Our indoor operation is a very clean antiseptic area, entirely under one roof. We grow the lettuce vertically, without dirt, and water the roots. Our employees wear gloves, coats, and hairnets when they harvest the lettuce ... the lettuce is never touched. The varieties we grow include a full herb kit, micro greens, romaine, arugula, butter lettuce and oak leaf.
Q: Where can consumers find your lettuce?
A: We sell to Lunds & Byerlys, a handful of Cub Foods and Hy-Vee stores, Fresh Thyme and other major co-ops. It tastes so much fresher because it's grown locally.
- Unsie Zuege
Tags Dave Augustine Dana Anderson Aeroponically Grown Romaine Lettuce