US: CHARLESTON, SC - Lowcountry-Based Hydroponic Lettuce Farm Going Mobile
by Brooke Schwieters
February 7th, 2020 (WCIV)
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — A growing trend in produce farming has some of the Lowcountry's leafy greens growing indoors. Now they're going mobile. Charleston-based Vertical Roots is the nation’s largest hydroponic container farming operation. With an eco-friendly focus on sustainable farming, Vertical Roots uses recycled shipping containers to grow lettuce.
“There’s no soil. The lettuce grows in coconut and there’s basically a stream of water that allows us to grow the lettuce, so instead of lettuce having to travel 2,000 miles, this is grown right here in our backyard," explained Andrew Hare, general manager of Vertical Roots.
Now the operation is hitting the road with its new mobile hydroponic farm, the Lettuce LOCALmotive, hoping to educate the community about the growing trend.“
This was something that we wanted to do to get out into the community and educate the community in different ways of growing, the alternatives from conventional farming,” said Hare. “Obviously bringing a farm to different locations isn’t the easiest thing, so we decided to convert a delivery truck into a farm on wheels.”
When guests step inside, they will experience a true hydroponic farm operation, receive a tutorial on how the technology works, and even get hands-on experience seeding plants.
As part of the start to it's Southeast tour, Lettuce LOCALmotive farm will make its first two stops at Publix stores in Charleston:
Saturday, Feb. 8 | 10 am – 4 pm | 3642 Savannah Hwy #132, Johns Island, SC 29455
Saturday, Feb. 15 | 10 am – 4 pm | 162 Seven Farms Drive #100, Daniel Island, SC 29492