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Long Island Hospital Creates Unique ‘Farm to Bedside’ Concept With Rooftop Farm
Stony Brook University Hospital has a rooftop farm. It's also used to teach local children about nutrition and gardening
JULY 24, 2019, BY KEITH LOPEZ
PIX11 video journalist Keith Lopez has the story.
STONY BROOK, NY — A Long Island hospital has created a unique "farm to bedside" concept promoting healthy eating for patients.
Stony Brook University Hospital has a rooftop farm. It's also used to teach local children about nutrition and gardening. A dozen kids were at the farm Wednesday for a program to learn about healthy eating.
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UK: Onwards And Upwards! Vertical Farms Could Come To York Central
In a bid to meet City of York Council’s pledge for the city to be carbon neutral by 2030, Cllr Christian Vassie said creating urban farms is just one of the initiatives the organisation is looking at
July 30, 2019
By Chloe Laversuch - Local Democracy Reporter in Environment, Life
Urban farms to grow food for residents could be built on new developments in York.
The plans could see salad leaves, tomatoes and even more exotic crops grown in greenhouses on major housing schemes like York Central.
In a bid to meet City of York Council’s pledge for the city to be carbon neutral by 2030, Cllr Christian Vassie said creating urban farms is just one of the initiatives the organisation is looking at.
Cllr Vassie, chair of the council’s new climate change committee, said York could follow in the footsteps of the Netherlands, where produce is grown in small vertical farms with six or seven layers of vegetables stacked on top of each other.
He said:
The key is how we can produce our food closer to home.
Food like lettuces may be grown in one part of the country and transported all over the UK before they reach us. It’s not good for the environment.
Vertical farms are innovative. Space to grow food costs a lot more in a city so it’s about making best use of our land.
Surprised by what you can grow
Speaking at a council meeting about the design guide for new council developments, he asked if urban farms could be included in proposals for schemes – including York Central.
He said:
We could have small farms on new developments. We talk about York Central being innovative – this is exactly the kind of thing you would want to see there.
It’s one of many things that the climate change committee is looking at. I’m proud that the council declared an ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030.
But delivering it is going to be really tough, it requires more creative decisions.
Food is just one part of that. I think people would be surprised by what we can grow here that we currently do not.
The climate change committee will have to consider everything. The challenge we face is massive.
While the urban farms would not be able to feed the whole city, he said they would be a good start, adding that it may even be possible to grow exotic crops such as bananas could be grown in the UK.
And that growing food close to where it is eaten is one way to tackle carbon emissions.
The first meeting of the council’s new climate change committee is due to take place on September 10.
Lead photo: Vertical farming makes maximum use of limited space. Photograph: verticalfarming.net
UAE Delegation Visit To Japan Opens Avenues For Environmental Collaboration
A UAE delegation, headed by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, MoCCAE, has concluded its visit to the Japanese capital Tokyo. The agenda included a visit to ‘Techno Farm Keihanna’, the largest automated vertical farm in the world
30-07-2019
TOKYO, 30th July, 2019 (WAM) -- A UAE delegation, headed by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, MoCCAE, has concluded its visit to the Japanese capital Tokyo. The visit aimed to promote collaboration on various environmental fronts and allow the delegation to explore best practices and technologies in Japan’s agricultural and fisheries sectors.
The delegation comprised Salah Al Rayssi, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for the Biodiversity and Marine Life Sector at MoCCAE, and a host of representatives of private sector companies in the UAE.
Commenting on the visit, Dr. Al Zeyoudi said, "The UAE enjoys deep-rooted economic and environmental ties with Japan. Our visit aimed to build on our strong synergies and identify new opportunities for collaboration in the environmental sector. We also sought to exchange expertise in relevant areas."
"The UAE strives to boost international cooperation and learn from successful experiences of friendly nations with the aim of ensuring sustainable development across all sectors," the minister added.
Al Zeyoudi held multiple bilateral meetings with high-level environment officials, in the presence of Khalid Omran Al Ameri, UAE Ambassador to Japan. Among these was a meeting with Yoshiaki Harada, Japan’s Minister of the Environment, who reiterated the importance of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative that will elevate relations between the two countries to new heights.
The UAE Minister also met with Mitsuhiro Miyakoshi, Japan’s Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety, who applauded the strong UAE-Japan relations, and highlighted the UAE’s leading role in supplying natural gas and other energy resources to Japan following the Fukushima earthquake.
Dr Al Zeyoudi met with Kohjiro Takano, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, who praised the recent measures taken by the UAE to relax the restrictions on all imports from Fukushima.
He also met with Saito Ken, Chief Secretary of Japan-UAE Parliamentary Friendship Association, to explore ways to enhance the strategic bilateral relationship.
In a meeting with Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, Al Zeyoudi discussed further boosting bilateral relations through creating investment opportunities in renewables as well as twinning Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.
The agenda included a visit to ‘Techno Farm Keihanna’, the largest automated vertical farm in the world, where Dr Al Zeyoudi and delegates from Madar Farms, the UAE-based vertical farming company, gained insights into the latest developments and technologies in vertical farming that significantly accelerates food production.
The delegation also visited Toyosu Fish market, the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world, the Institute of Energy and Economics, Japan International Cooperation Agency, a governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance for the government of Japan, and Mebiol, a Tokyo-based technology corporation that invented the sustainable agro-tech concept of using films to cultivate plants and ensure zero wastage of water.
On the sidelines of the visit to Japan, Dr Al Zeyoudi attended the second round of the fifth edition of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour that witnessed athletes from 35 countries competing for the top honour.
WAM/Nour Salman/MOHD AAMIR
US: OHIO: 80 Acres To Create 125 New Jobs As It Opens New Hamilton Headquarters
A $26.9 million investment from San Francisco private equity firm Virgo Investment Group will allow 80 Acres Farms to carry out planned phases for continued expansion of its operations in Hamilton and enable the company to create 125 new jobs in the city
July 29, 2019
Eric Schwartzberg, Staff Writer
Hamilton, Ohio
A $26.9 million investment from San Francisco private equity firm Virgo Investment Group will allow 80 Acres Farms to carry out planned phases for continued expansion of its operations in Hamilton and enable the company to create 125 new jobs in the city.
As a result of that investment and the commitment to create those new jobs, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority this morning approved a Job Creation Tax Credit for the project for 1.647 percent over eight years.
80 Acres Farms also has moved its corporate headquarters, as well as 15 employees, to newly renovated office space in downtown Hamilton, company officials said Monday. The company derives its name from its ability to grow 80 acres worth of food in a quarter of an acre space, all starting in its original location in Cincinnati.
MORE: A Hamilton facility will be the first of its kind in North America after new investment
80 Acres Farms is now producing tomatoes in downtown Hamilton. They purchased the former Miami Motor Car Co. building on S. 2nd Street in February 2017 and have renovated it to create an indoor farm facility. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF
Its vision is to establish year-round indoor farming operations in major cities around the world growing more nutritious produce, according to Mike Zelkind, 80 Acres Farms’ co-founder and CEO.
80 Acres Farms’ closed-loop, modular systems grow crops more sustainably, and their proximity to consumer locations dramatically decreases the distance produce must travel, thereby increasing shelf life and more importantly taste.
“Hamilton is a rising community looking for diversified growth and is strategically located near multiple large population centers,” Zelkind said. “Sustainability continues to be an essential part of our business, and Hamilton’s commitment to emissions-free, renewable energy through hydropower was also an important component in our decision to become an even bigger part of the Hamilton community.”
MORE: Hamilton’s large indoor growing operation is so advanced they want it around the world
Hamilton City Manager Joshua Smith said 80 Acres Farms’ decision to call Hamilton home is catalytic for three reasons.
“First, they will soon be one of our largest utility customers,” Smith said. “Second, their presence in Hamilton is attracting interest from other innovative companies. And third, their multiple locations throughout the city will have a positive impact on local businesses.”
The company was founded in 2015 by Zelkind and Tisha Livingston, two veteran food industry executives. It is supported by a board of directors representing executive and leadership experience at leading food, healthcare and other companies.
80 Acres Farms provides customers with a variety of locally grown, just-picked leafy greens, microgreens and vine crops, including the world’s only tomatoes and cucumbers grown completely indoors using proprietary technologies. That includes modular grow zones, customized LED lighting, precisely tuned climate controls and an artificial intelligence-powered growing system.
The company said that allows to produce flavorful and nutritious locally grown fruits and vegetables at affordable prices.
80 Acres Farms is now producing tomatoes in downtown Hamilton. They purchased the former Miami Motor Car Co. building on S. 2nd Street in February 2017 and have renovated it to create an indoor farm facility. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF
MORE: Dilapidated Hamilton building transforms into an industry-changing grow facility
80 Acres Farms launched renovations on the former Miami Motor Company building on South 2nd Street in early 2017, with plans to create 30,000 square feet of office and food production space downtown. The company is growing vine crops in that renovated location, where it started harvesting its first crops in April.
In September 2018, 80 Acres Farms broke ground on the first phase of its Hamilton Enterprise Park facility and in late March the first phase of the site started when the company started growing its first crop there.
It is set to become the country’s first fully automated indoor farm.
Most recently, the company moved its corporate headquarters, as well as 15 employees, to a newly renovated office space in downtown Hamilton. The company’s planned investment in Hamilton is expected to be more than $26.9 million.
MORE: Company with large Hamilton indoor growing operations joining international food effort
Future phases will add around 150,000 square feet of controlled environmental agriculture, or CEA, space. That space will allow 80 Acres to “dramatically increase” distribution with its growing list of retail and food service partners, which includes Whole Foods, Jungle Jim’s International Market, Dorothy Lane Market and Green Bean Delivery, Zelkind said.
FOR SALE - Two - 2015.5 Freight Farm - Computer Controlled Hydroponic Grow Systems - Location: Colorado
Manufacturer - Freight Farms
Model - (2) 2015.5 Leafy Green Machine (LGM) - Winterized" for Cold Climates.
Price - $50,000 Each - Can be sold individually
Location: Colorado
The Leafy Green Machine is a complete hydroponic growing system built entirely inside a shipping container with all the components needed for commercial food production. The system is designed and engineered for easy operation, allowing users of all backgrounds to immediately start growing.
Current Uses
• Perfect for starting a small produce business, growing for restaurants or supplementing existing produce production.
• Restauranter who wants to grow custom greens for rotating menus 365 days a year. Farm to Table? How about Parking Lot to Table!
• Universities and schools have created programs for students to learn to grow while supplementing dining facilities with fresh greens.
The Highest Standard in Controlled Environment Agriculture
• Pre-built system designed to maximize operational efficiency and streamline workflow
• Perfect environment is achievable 365 days a year, regardless of geographic location
• Automated scheduling reduces the amount of labor required to operate
• Remote monitoring & control capabilities through the Farmhand AppTM
Operation Requirements
Space- The LGM dimensions are 40’ x 8’ x 9.5’. We suggest putting the farm on either trap rock or a concrete pad.
Electrical- 60 amp, 120/240-volt single phase or 120/208V three phase connection.
Water- A designated water source is suggested such as a garden hose or hardline water plumbing.
Labor- 15 to 20 hours a week for farming and upkeep.
It is recommended growing smaller compact crops with a high turnover rate, like head and loose leaf lettuces, herbs and heartier greens like kale and swiss chard.
Crop Examples
Butterhead lettuce, Oakleaf lettuce, Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens, Cabbage Leaves, Arugula, Cilantro, Mint, Dill, Oregano, Kale, Endive, Basil, Chives and Thyme
Yields
800+ heads of lettuce weekly
12 heads per tower (256 vertical towers)
1 LGM= 1.8 acres
LGM Included Accessories:
Zebra Printer and Bar Code System + Case of Ribbons & Paper
Numerous additional extras included.
Numerous warranties still in effect
Training, website and ongoing support available through Freight Farms.
Visit www.freightfarms.com for more information.
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Attached Documents:
LGM Cut Sheets
See All Photos And Videos Here
US: Pennsylvania - State Agriculture Secretary Tours 3 Urban Gardens In Erie
State and local officials toured urban gardens in Erie Wednesday as part of Urban Agriculture Week activities in Pennsylvania
By Christopher Millette
July 24, 2019
The visit by state Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding was part of Urban Agriculture Week activities in Pennsylvania
State and local officials toured urban gardens in Erie Wednesday as part of Urban Agriculture Week activities in Pennsylvania.
At the first stop, the student-maintained garden at Perry Elementary School, 955 W. 29th St., Erie, about 20 representatives from the Erie School District, Erie County government, local businesses and the state Department of Agriculture held a roundtable discussion about the effectiveness of the district’s urban gardens program, and urban gardening across the state in general.
Other planned tour stops included French Street Farms, at the corner of French and East 22nd streets, and the community garden run by the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network, 425 W. 18th Street.
Russell Redding, state Secretary of Agriculture, began the tour at Perry Elementary School and noted the connection between locally-sourced food and economic development.
“It’s just important to celebrate what’s in Pennsylvania,” said Redding, who is touring urban agriculture sites across the state this week. “And a big part of that is our urban centers and what happens around food and agriculture.”
Redding also reminded roundtable participants about the state’s Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant program, which provides $500,000 in reimbursement grants to qualified applicants. The grants, which are part of the 2019 Pennsylvania Farm Bill, are meant to improve urban agriculture gardens and programs across the state.
Beginning Aug. 1, information about applying for the grant will be available on the state Department of Community and Economic Development website. The application deadline for the UAIG is Sept. 15.
Like all 15 of the Erie School District’s gardens, the Perry Elementary site is maintained by students. The 1,500 square-foot garden at Perry produces vegetables, herbs and flowers. Much of the produce goes home with Perry students, said Stephanie Ciner, an AmeriCorps Vista service member who helps maintain the district’s gardens. Ciner also said some of the gardens products are donated to the Emmaus Food Pantry on Erie’s east side.
One of the roundtable participants at Perry is taking an active part in the success of the garden.
Amanda Karns, 34, is a neighbor and works as a special projects coordinator at Harborcreek Youth Services in Harborcreek Township. She is coordinating a project with HYS clients, who are building and donating to the garden a set of rain barrel platforms.
Karns, who walked her daughter Charlie Karns, 1, around the garden during the discussion, is glad to be a part of the school’s garden program. “We’re really excited that this is here,” she said.
Christopher Millette can be reached at 870-1712 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ETNMillette.
All photos by: CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE/ERIE TIMES-NEWS
LED Success Story
Owner, Rick OUdling, talks about his Success with Phillips LED toplighting
Kalamazoo Specialty Plants Roots Cuttings More Quickly And More
Uniformly With Philips LEDs
After trialing different brands of horticulture LEDs, Kalamazoo Specialty Plants (KSP) installed a small Philips toplighting trial in 2016 and then proceeded with a significant expansion in 2018. Owner, Rick Ouding, talks about his success with Philips LED toplighting.
Apex Farms Corp. Retains New CFO and Board Member
Apex Farms Corp. (“Apex Farms” or the “Company”), a vertical farming technology company that designs and produces proprietary vertical hydroponic farming systems for both commercial and residential use, is proud to announce that it has retained Melissa Kennedy as its Chief Financial Officer and as a member of its board of directors
ACCESSWIRE July 24, 2019
WILMINGTON, DE / ACCESSWIRE / July 24, 2019 / Apex Farms Corp. (“Apex Farms” or the “Company”), a vertical farming technology company that designs and produces proprietary vertical hydroponic farming systems for both commercial and residential use, is proud to announce that it has retained Melissa Kennedy as its Chief Financial Officer and as a member of its board of directors.
Melissa Kennedy was the controller of a Hotel Sofitel (1994-1997), a sole proprietor working as the bookkeeper for several entities (1997-2010), the campaign controller for a U.S. senator (2001-2010), the treasurer for a political action committee (2003-2011), the business manager for a strategic and political consulting firm (2010-2017) and, most recently, a sole proprietor working as an intermediary accountant for clients reporting to the SEC (2015-2019).
Melissa Kennedy stated ‘I’m very happy to be CFO of Apex Farms Corp. “I’m an electric car-driving , tree hugger” living in the Pacific Northwest so working for a green company is an absolute dream come true. I look forward to putting my accounting and SEC-reporting skills to work in growing the company and to help take the company to the next level.”
Alexander M. Woods-Leo the Founder and CEO of Apex Farms Corp. went on to say “bringing Melissa Kennedy on as CFO and as a member of our board is an important step as we traverse through our next goal of completing becoming publicly traded. Ms. Kennedy’s background and expertise with respect to finances and her experience as a controller will be instrumental to strengthening our internal and disclosure controls and to our future success.”
Initial Public Offering
Apex Farms Corp. is seeking to sell up to 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at an offering price of $0.20 per share for aggregate maximum gross proceeds of one million dollars ($1,000,000). To date, the Company has raised $191,368.80 under its Regulation A+, Tier 2 IPO. The Company is now posting its offering on the StartEngine platform where it will seek to raise up to an additional $808,631.20 over the next 90 days. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for engineering and prototyping, marketing, production and inventory, administrative and corporate expenses, professional fees and compensation and working capital reserves. The offering circular for the offering is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and may be accessed using the following link:
https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?company=Apex+Farms+Corp.&owner=exclude&action=getcompany
and on the Start engine portal https://www.startengine.com/apex-farms-corp
Both accredited and non-accredited investors can invest as little as $500 in the offering by visiting the offering page on the StartEngine website using the following link: https://www.startengine.com/apex-farms-corp
The offering of the Company's common stock is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or how much capital will be raised, if any. The Company cannot predict the timing of its planned quotation on the over-the-counter market.
About Apex Farms Corp.
Apex Farms Corp. designs highly practical vertical growing systems. We have analyzed, challenged, and worked out a system for growing food that can be accessible to everyone at relatively low prices. We see our community as the world at large, standardizing our farming method to create jobs, cultivate healthier eating opportunities, and reducing the carbon footprint.
With global hunger on the rise, many farms face challenges in meeting demand due to the high costs of water, land, energy, and labor. Apex Farms has developed a Vertical Farming System to address this need. Using patented and patent-pending technology, the hydroponic system can grow a wide variety of plants, including vine plants, root plants, flowers, and greens. The planting rows are stacked to reduce overall resource use but are fully accessible for harvesting from the ground - no need for conveyor belts, scaffolding, or complex machinery. Ultimately, the company wants to achieve the highest levels of efficiency and allow clients to fully customize their farm.
For more information about Apex Farms Corp., please visit: www.apexfarming.com
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
The information set forth above includes statements, estimates, projections with respect to our anticipated future performance and other forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "future" or "continue," the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements include statements about our ability to successfully commercialize a smaller residential system at a lower price point, our ability to successfully raise capital in our Regulation A offering, our ability to obtain additional patents, our ability to successfully generate revenues, grow our business and execute our business plan. Such forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and expectations and are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, estimates and projections are based upon various assumptions that we made concerning our anticipated results and industry trends, which may or may not occur. We are not making any representations as to the accuracy of these statements, estimates or projections. Our actual performance may be materially different from the statements, estimates or projections set forth above as a result of various risks applicable to our company as discussed in our Form 1-A Offering Statement that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results.
Important Notice the Regarding Regulation A Offering
Apex Farms Corp. is conducting an offering of its securities under Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. To learn more about this offering or to invest in this offering visit Apex Farms' offering page using this link : https://www.startengine.com/apex-farms-corp . An offering statement regarding Apex Farms' Regulation A offering has been filed with the SEC. The SEC has qualified that offering statement, which means that Apex Farms Corp. may make sales of the securities described by that offering statement. It does not mean that the SEC has approved, passed upon the merits or passed upon the accuracy or completeness of the information in the offering statement. You may obtain a copy of the offering circular that is part of that offering statement through this link: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1729481/000144586619000827/apex_253g1.htm
Investing in an initial public offering like our Regulation A offering is subject to unique risks, tolerance for volatility, and potential loss of your investment, that investors should be aware of prior to making an investment decision. Please carefully review the risk factors contained in the offering circular for this offering.
For more information contact:
Alexander M. Woods-Leo
alex@apexfarming.com
302-307-3668 Ext. #1
SOURCE: Apex Farms Corp.
Heliponix Capturing Innovation And Hearts In Indiana's Great Southwest
Heliponix is an Agriculture Technology company that sells the GroPod to consumers. The GroPod is a revolutionary smart appliance that grows fresh produce in your home any time of year with an organic seed-pod subscription without any preservatives or pesticides
See The First GroPod One In-Person At The Purdue University Graduate Student Plant Science Symposium on August 1 At The Beck Agricultural Center.
Heliponix is an Agriculture Technology company that sells the GroPod to consumers. The GroPod is a revolutionary smart appliance that grows fresh produce in your home any time of year with an organic seed-pod subscription without any preservatives or pesticides.
The business model is similar to the keurig k-cup model, but is also a practical solution to counter the environmental damage wreaked by conventional soil agriculture since it uses hydroponics which grows produce faster with 95% less water. This is important because the human population will reach 9.8 Billion in the year 2050 which will increase food demand by 70%. This will likely not be met with current agriculture practices in the US accounting for almost 80% of all freshwater consumption and 50% of land use.
Heliponix was co-founded by Southern Indiana natives, Scott Massey and Ivan Ball. Although they did not know each other before completing their respective engineering degrees at Purdue University, they met each other as co-working on a NASA funded research study at Purdue.
There, there research energy efficent LED lighting spectrum optimization to reduce the energy consumption of the hydroponic growing systems on the International Space Station. As undergraduate students, they had the idea to create an IoT (internet of things) appliance that would automate the complex process of hydroponics so every-day consumers would have the ability to grow their own produce at home. They then competed in business plan competitions at various universities and research institutions to raise several hundred thousand dollars in funding to commercialize their proprietary technology. Purdue University was among their first investors through their venture division focused on innovations within the agricultural and biological engineering domain.
Heliponix won first place in the Evansville Regional Pitch Competition after debuting considerable traction bringing the GroPod to market as well as the their first production model from their manufacturing facility that will have the capability to produce several thousand GroPods.
Scott Massey said: “We considered many other cities when deciding where to locate a high-tech appliance company such as Heliponix. Fortunately, the Ohio River Valley is fertile in engineering talent and manufacturing plants to produce our exact product. We will continue creating high-paying jobs as we define an entirely new frontier for agriculture. In the not so distant future, the majority of culinary herbs, microgreens, and leafy green vegetables will be grown indoors as consumers favor the flavor, health, and food safety benefits of fresher food. That’s why we are excited to advance to the state finals since our company truly has so much growth potential for our region.”
VIDEO: This Robotic Farm Uses 90% Less Water Than Traditional Farming
There are multiple advantages of our approach to farming. With hydroponics, we can grow near consumption, near people. And with robotics, we can make sure that we're getting a consistently, great product every week
Iron Ox's robotic farm uses 90% less water than traditional farming.
The plants are grown without soil in sensor-connected, hydroponic trays.
Following is the transcript of the video.
This robotic farm uses 90% less water than traditional farming.
According to the World Resources Institute, the world population will be 10 billion by 2050.
That's 2.4 billion more mouths to feed than today.
That's a challenge that start-up Iron Ox is tackling.
Iron Ox wants to create more sustainable farming by combining robotics and hydroponics.
Hydroponics is the process of growing plants without soil.
Brandon Alexander: There [are] multiple advantages of our approach to farming. With hydroponics, we can grow near consumption, near people. And with robotics, we can make sure that we're getting a consistently, great product every week.
Why An Entrepreneur Believes Urban Farming Is The Future In D.C.
Acky's company, Little Wild Things uses small, under utilized outdoor spaces in D.C., 80 percent of her farming is done indoors. When chefs call, Acky and her team deliver quickly
by WJLA
Friday, July 19th 2019
Mary Acky owns Little Wild Things, an indoor farming business in D.C. Friday, July 19, 2019. (ABC7 photo)
WASHINGTON (WJLA) — Down an unmarked trail at a monastery in Northeast Washington, you might not expect a farm delivering to some of the District's top restaurants.
Please Click Here to View the Video
And in an unmarked warehouse near Union Market, you probably wouldn’t expect an indoor farm.
But that’s exactly what’s happening. Meet Mary Acky—a young entrepreneur— she’s innovating the way America farms are created.
Acky and her team of six employees, don’t just grow regular fruits and vegetables. They grow micro greens. Smaller, nutrient packed greens ready to eat just days after planting.
In terms of health, micro greens in general have about 4-6 times the nutrient density of a fully grown version of a plant.
Acky's company, Little Wild Things uses small, under utilized outdoor spaces in D.C., 80 percent of her farming is done indoors. When chefs call, Acky and her team deliver quickly.
She believes farming innovation in cities, both indoor and outdoor, must be the future.
Anyone can order from Little Wild Things by going to their website or visiting them at the Dupont Farmers Market.
Manufacturer Recalls Salads, Sandwiches Sold At Target, Fresh Market Due To Health Risk
The manufacturer of some salads and sandwiches sold at Target and The Fresh Market has issued a recall due to potential listeria contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The manufacturer of some salads and sandwiches sold at Target and The Fresh Market has issued a recall due to potential listeria contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Elevation Foods is voluntarily recalling some containers of Archer Farms-brand egg salad; Freskëtbrand egg salad, tuna salad, and Thai lobster salad; and Archer Farms-brand deviled egg sandwiches produced on June 18, 2019.
On its website, The Fresh Market says its Thai lobster salad that's sold both prepackaged and by the pound at its self-serve seafood is included in the recall.
According to Elevation Foods, fewer than 1,087 cases of product were shipped to retailer warehouses throughout the United States.
Archer Farms Egg Salad is one of several salads included in a voluntary recall by Elevation Foods. (Photo: Provided)
To see if you have a product that's included in the recall, check the “use by” date printed on the side of the container and the lot number. The FDA website lists the following items as impacted by the recall:
Archer Farms-brand Egg Salad packaged in a 12-ounce clear, square plastic container, Lot Number W1906042A, Use By 12AUG2019 (printed on the side of each container) UPC 085239018682, distributed nationwide;
Freskët-brand Egg Salad packaged in a 32-ounce clear, square plastic container, Lot Number W1906042, Use By 12AUG2019A (printed on the side of each container;
Freskët-brand Tuna Salad packaged in a 5-pound white, round plastic container, Lot Number W1906054, Use By 02AUG2019A (printed on the side of each container;
Freskët-brand Thai Lobster Salad packaged in a 5-pound white, round plastic container, Lot Number W1906041, Use By 02AUG2019A (printed on the side of each container);
Archer Farms Deviled Egg Sandwich Half Sandwich with Bacon, UPC 220505000002, distributed nationwide;
Archer Farms Deviled Egg Sandwich on Multigrain, UPC 498780203566, distributed nationwide.
No illnesses have been reported, but listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA.
Fresket Thai Lobster Salad is one of several salads included in a voluntary recall by Elevation Foods. (Photo: Provided)
In otherwise healthy people, listeria monocytogenes can cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, according to the FDA. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Elevation Foods identified the problem with the products after receiving positive test results for three containers of affected egg salad which were sampled and tested by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, according to the FDA website. Elevation Foods is continuing to investigate potential sources of the problem.
Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can call 866-761-9566 at any time.
Coworking Produce Subscriptions - Wework And Freight Farms Are Offering Members Fresh Greens
Unconventional partnerships often bring about the best ideas, and this rings true with a collaboration formed between WeWork and Freight Farms, in which members of the coworking space are able to receive fresh and locally grown produce
By: Ellen Smith - Jul 19, 2019
References: freightfarms
Unconventional partnerships often bring about the best ideas, and this rings true with a collaboration formed between WeWork and Freight Farms, in which members of the coworking space are able to receive fresh and locally grown produce.
This partnership follows the announcement that WeWork is making moves in the agricultural space, as the brand announced the WeWork Food Labs at the beginning of 2019.
In this particular partnership with Freight Farms, WeWork is aligning its brand with conscious consumerism and sustainability, allowing its members to subscribe to a weekly delivery of fresh greens delivered to WeWork locations.
The subscription program is available for $12.50 weekly, or $50 monthly, effectively bridging accessible food, with convenience and affordability
WEWORK X FREIGHT FARMS
A UNIQUE FARM-TO-OFFICE PROGRAM DIRECTLY AT YOUR WEWORK LOCATION
PROGRAM BASICS
Weekly delivery of fresh greens
Pick up at your WeWork location
Greens delivered less than 24-hours after harvest
$50/month (only $12.50 per box!)
Start date week of July 8th, 2019
24 deliveries between July and December
REGISTER TODAY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
+ How long is the program?
Each session is 6 months (24 weeks) long. The program starts the week of July 8th through the week of December 16th. You’ll be setup to auto-renew and we’ll be sure to remind you with plenty of time if you’d prefer to cancel instead.
+ How does pick-up work?
For WeWork offices we’ll be delivering shares on Tuesday afternoons after harvesting that same morning. Shares will be delivered between 2 - 4 pm close to your community manager’s desk.
+ What if I’m out during pick-up?
Since we deliver only once a week, we will not be able to defer pick up on an individual basis (we will find alternate days and notify you if pick-up conflicts with a holiday). If there’s no way around picking up your share, we recommend gifting it to someone in your office.
+ How does payment work?
The cost for the full subscription is due upon sign-up. At $50/month, the full subscription cost is $300.
+ How frequently will I be charged?
Your subscription will automatically renew at 24 weeks unless you decide to cancel. If you don’t cancel in time, we will have already planted your shares of the greens and we won’t be able to retroactively cancel your subscription or issue a refund.
+ How does cancellation work?
All of the program dates are scheduled around the farm’s growing schedule. As an early adopter, you will have the option to cancel within the first month (July 8 - August 2) for a $250 refund and you would still receive shares through those four weeks. After August 2nd, there is no cancellation allowed. However, you would be able to transfer the remainder of your subscription to someone else at a WeWork office.
+ How do I provide input?
After your first month, we’ll begin soliciting periodic feedback to influence what we grow in the WeWork farm. You will see the direct impact roughly 2 months after providing feedback since that is the typical time it takes to grow new crops.
+ How can I get in contact with Freight Farms about my share?
For any and all questions, simply email weworkgrown@freightfarms.com and the WeWork designated member of our Grown Ops team will provide you with an answer.
+ How often will you be emailing me directly?
We will be reaching out… Once a week, to remind you about pick up and share recipes. Once a month, with reminders to collect feedback. As needed, if there’s any change to the pick up schedule. Towards the end of your subscription, with information about auto-renewal and the cancellation window. And ASAP, in response to any of your emails!
FOR SALE - 2015.5 Freight Farm - Computer Controlled Hydroponic Grow System - Minnesota
The Leafy Green Machine is a complete hydroponic growing system built entirely inside a shipping container with all the components needed for commercial food production. The system is designed and engineered for easy operation, allowing users of all backgrounds to immediately start growing.
2015.5 Freight Farm - Computer Controlled
Hydroponic Grow System
FOR SALE
Location: Minnesota
Price: $40,000
2015.5 Freight Farm Leafy Green Machine (LGM)
The Leafy Green Machine is a complete hydroponic growing system built entirely inside a shipping container with all the components needed for commercial food production. The system is designed and engineered for easy operation, allowing users of all backgrounds to immediately start growing.
Current Uses
• Perfect for starting a small produce business, growing for restaurants or supplementing existing produce production.
• Restauranter who wants to grow custom greens for rotating menus 365 days a year. Farm to Table? How about Parking Lot to Table!
• Universities and schools have created programs for students to learn to grow while supplementing dining facilities with fresh greens.
The Highest Standard in Controlled Environment Agriculture
• Pre-built system designed to maximize operational efficiency and streamline workflow
• Perfect environment is achievable 365 days a year, regardless of geographic location
• Automated scheduling reduces the amount of labor required to operate
• Remote monitoring & control capabilities through the Farmhand AppTM
Operation Requirements
Space- The LGM dimensions are 40’ x 8’ x 9.5’. We suggest putting the farm on either trap rock or a concrete pad.
Electrical- 60 amp, 120/240-volt single phase or 120/208V three phase connection.
Water- A designated water source is suggested such as a garden hose or hardline water plumbing.
Labor- 15 to 20 hours a week for farming and upkeep.
It is recommended growing smaller compact crops with a high turnover rate, like head and loose leaf lettuces, herbs and heartier greens like kale and swiss chard.
Crop Examples
Butterhead lettuce, Oakleaf lettuce, Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens, Cabbage Leaves, Arugula, Cilantro, Mint, Dill, Oregano, Kale, Endive, Basil, Chives and Thyme
Yields
800+ heads of lettuce weekly
12 heads per tower (256 vertical towers)
1 LGM= 1.8 acres
LGM Included Accessories:
Zebra Printer and Bar Code System + Case of Ribbons & Paper
Numerous additional extras included.
Numerous warranties still in effect
Training, website and ongoing support available through Freight Farms.
Visit www.freightfarms.com for more information.
NASA Project Proves The New Mexico Chile Is Out of This World
A team of scientists at NASA is working to launch the Española chile pepper into space. This would be the first fruiting plant the United States has grown and harvested at the International Space Station
July 14, 2019
BY KAREN GRAHAM
A team of scientists at NASA is working to launch the Española chile pepper into space. This would be the first fruiting plant the United States has grown and harvested at the International Space Station.
New Mexico chili peppers were grown in 3-gallon pots in the Ghosh Grove, Rockledge, Florida, USA from seeds bought from the Chili Pepper Institute, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico,
Asit K. Ghosh Thaumaturgist (CC BY-SA 3.0)
One of the issues over long-term space missions is how to supply the needed food for the trip. Free-dried food can take up a lot of space and weight on an extended voyage and won't be that tasty. Back in the early 2000s,
NASA began exploring ways to supplement astronauts’ diets with plants that can be grown in space or on other worlds.NASA began by experimenting with growing seeds in simulated space environments here on Earth. With improved technologies, NASA is now learning to grow vegetables and fruits on the International Space Station (ISS). But it's not easy growing plants with less gravity than is found on Earth.
Seeds tend to move around in zero-gravity and water clumps up. Remember, you can't pour a glass of water in space. There is also the need to be frugal when it comes to space - we mean the size of the garden
ASA Image: ISS021-E-006274 A close-up view of the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) SPACE SEED experiment is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 21 crew member in the Kibo laboratory on the International Space Station. ISS021-E-006274 A close-up view of the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) SPACE SEED experiment is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 21 crew member in the Kibo laboratory on the International Space Station. NASA
Differences in lighting, temperature and even the medium used to grow the seeds had to be tested. And because of the weight of soil, NASA has been looking at methods like hydroponics and aeroponics. Hydroponics involves delivering water and nutrients to plant roots using liquid solutions, and with aeroponics, plants are grown in a misty air environment.
The first edible veggie is grown in space
The first portable growing box for space, equipped with LED lights, called Veggie, was tested at the orbiting outpost in 2014. After a few problems were worked out, astronauts got their first taste of NASA-approved space-grown lettuce in 2015. Now, there are two Veggie boxes and a third called the Advanced Plant Habitat.
A picture of Tokyo Bekana Chinese cabbage growing in a NASA Veggie unit. Image dated February 17, 2017.ISS Expedition 50 member
Since NASA's first attempts using the Veggie, a number of green leafy vegetables, as well as zinnias and a sunflower, have been grown successfully on the ISS. In 2018 the Veggie-3 experiment was tested with plant pillows and root mats. One of the goals is to grow food for crew consumption. Crops tested at this time include cabbage, lettuce, and mizuna.
Today, fruits and vegetables that can be safely stored at room temperature are eaten on space flights. Astronauts also have a greater variety of main courses to choose from, and many request personalized menus from lists of available foods including items like fruit salad and spaghetti.
But even with all the variety of foods available for bringing on board the ISS, there is still the need for growing vegetables and fruits on space flights. And now that we are getting good at growing green, leafy vegetables, it was time to experiment with growing a fruiting plant.
Assorted bags of snack food and dehydrated food, as served on the ISS.NASA
The New Mexico Chile
Jacob Torres is part of a team of 20 people at NASA in Florida, working on a way to grow vegetables on board the ISS. Torres is originally from the Espanola Valley in New Mexico. When Torres arrived at NASA in 2018 for an internship, scientists were exploring the possibility of growing Hatch peppers, a New Mexico chile.
Torres suggested that NASA look at the state's Española pepper instead. There was a good reason for the suggestion. Hatch peppers are grown in the deserts of New Mexico, while the Española pepper grows at higher elevations and has a shorter growth period. Tosses thought they would be better for growing in space.
After experimenting with growing the Española peppers here on Earth under simulated space conditions, the little peppers are ready to be sent off to the ISS sometime between November and January 2020. If successful, the Española pepper would be the first fruiting plant - a flowering plant that grows a seed pod to procreate -- to be grown at the International Space Station
New Mexico chiles dried on the plant in Mesilla, New Mexico, 2016.Dicklyon
.“What an honor, what a privilege, and what a great way to represent the Espanola Valley,” said Victor Romero from the Espanola Valley Chamber of Commerce. Locals are thrilled with the publicity. “I think it’s going to open a lot of doors, you know? Hopefully, it grows there in space, and I think everyone will jump into the growing of the chile,” said chile farmer Fidel Martinez.
The española is an old chile pepper, has a slightly stronger pungent and bitter flavor and matures early to red, first grown by the Spanish settlers in the San Juan Valley, near modern-day Española, New Mexico. The Española Improved is a hybrid of the Sandia and Española, and provides Española's taste and early maturation, with a better yield, and larger peppers.
More about nasa, espaola pepper, fruiting plants, new mexico chile, international space station
‘We Are Right At The Starting Gate’: Vertical Farming Could Change The Food System
Population growth and urbanisation are expected to support the expansion of the ancient vertical farming industry
By Katy Askew
08-May-2019
ntelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) talks vertical farming, demand growth and its unique technological proposition.
Population growth and urbanisation are expected to support the expansion of the ancient vertical farming industry.
The future food system will have to feed more people with finite land and water resources. Climate change is likely to exasperate the issue. This is the perfect storm driving interest in vertical farming.
According to forecasts from market research provider Global Market Insights, the vertical farming sector will grow by around 25% to reach a value of €11 billion in the next five years.
Scottish food tech group Intelligent Growth Solutions wants to leverage its unique IP protected processes to be an important part of this story.
Working alongside the James Hutton Institute for crop research, IGS has already opened its first demonstration indoor farm and orders are coming in from around the world.
We spoke with IGS CEO David Farquhar at The Ingredients Show in Birmingham, UK, last month to hear more about what has been described as ‘the world’s most technically advanced indoor farm’.
“We are right at the starting gate” for where this technology could take us, he suggested.
Watch the video to learn more
Great Lakes Growers
An early LED adopter, Bonner began trialing LEDs in 2015, and after seeing the success in a small area, expanded his Philips LED toplighting installation in 2016, again in 2017, and will install Philips grow lights with his greenhouse expansion
John Bonner, owner of Great Lakes Growers, discusses how he considered qualitative and quantitative benefits when evaluating LED lighting.
An early LED adopter, Bonner began trialing LEDs in 2015, and after seeing the success in a small area, expanded his Philips LED toplighting installation in 2016, again in 2017, and will install Philips grow lights with his greenhouse expansion.
Australia: Indoor Vertical Farming Touted As Future Source of Produce
Indoor vertical farming is being touted as a future source of fresh produce, but fledgling companies in Australia are struggling to move beyond the start-up phase
With drought gripping much of the country there are calls for the government to support new and emerging methods of agriculture.
Indoor vertical farming is being touted as a future source of fresh produce, but fledgling companies in Australia are struggling to move beyond the start-up phase.
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U.S. Vertical Farms Are Racing Against The Sun
Leafy salad greens grown under banks of LED lights, with mist or drips of water are having their day in the sun. Several top U.S. indoor farms, stacked with plants from floor to ceiling, tell Reuters they are boosting production to a level where they can now supply hundreds of grocery stores
JULY 5, 2019
(Reuters) - Leafy salad greens grown under banks of LED lights, with mist or drips of water are having their day in the sun. Several top U.S. indoor farms, stacked with plants from floor to ceiling, tell Reuters they are boosting production to a level where they can now supply hundreds of grocery stores.
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Plenty, Bowery, Aerofarms and 80 Acres Farms are among young companies that see a future in salad greens and other produce grown in what are called vertical farms that rely on robotics and artificial intelligence, along with LED lights. While the first versions of modern vertical farms sprouted about a decade ago, in recent years the introduction of automation and the tracking of data to regulate light and water has allowed them to get out of lab mode and into stores. Now they are trying to scale up.
Plenty and others say their customized, controlled lighting - some more blue light here, some more red light there - makes for tastier plants compared to sun-grown leaves and that they use 95% less water than conventional farms, require very little land, and use no pesticides, making them competitive with organic farms. And because vertical farms exist in windowless buildings that can be located in the heart of urban areas, produce does not have to travel far by fossil-fuel-guzzling trucks to reach stores.
The companies’ expansion comes as plant-based burger makers Beyond Meat Inc and Impossible Foods captivate investors and make inroads in high-end restaurants and fast-food chains.
But whether the sunless farms can compete financially with their field-grown brethren, given big upfront investments and electric bills, remains a question.
“We’re competitive with organic today and we’re working very hard to continue to make more and more crops grocery store competitive,” said Matt Barnard, chief executive and co-founder of Plenty, which is based in Silicon Valley.
Chef and Plenty advisory board member Nancy Silverton prepares a salad during a demonstration in San Francisco, California, U.S., June 11, 2019. Picture taken June 11, 2019. REUTERS/Jane Lanhee Lee
Plenty’s salads sell on organic grocery delivery site Good Eggs for 99 cents an ounce, while a leading brand, Organic Girl, on grocery chain Safeway’s online site was priced at 80 cents an ounce.
Plenty said its new farm, dubbed “Tigris,” can produce enough leafy greens to supply over 100 stores, compared with its previous farm that could only supply three stores and some restaurants.
The technology world is paying attention. In its last round in 2017 Plenty raised about $200 million from investors including Japan’s Softbank, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos and former Alphabet Chairman Eric Schmidt. New York City-based Bowery raised $95 million in a fund-raising round led by Google Ventures and Temasek last year.
Bowery said its third farm coming online soon will help it supply hundreds of stores from dozens today, and Aerofarms, in New Jersey, said it is doubling its space to meet demand.
None of the three companies would give details about costs.
Former Vertical Farm CEO Matt Matros is skeptical that sunless farms can make economic sense. He invested in and ran Chicago-based FarmedHere in 2015, but changed its business into food processing.
“The issue with indoor farming was that you could really only grow a couple things efficiently — namely basil and micro greens. But the problem is the world just doesn’t need that much basil and micro greens,” Matros said.
80 Acres Farms in Cincinnati says it already grows and sells tomatoes and cucumbers, and Plenty is testing cherry tomatoes and strawberries in the lab.
Plenty CEO and co-founder Matt Barnard tastes a salad prepared by chef and Plenty advisory board member Nancy Silverton during a demonstration in San Francisco, California, U.S., June 11, 2019. Picture taken June 11, 2019. REUTERS/Jane Lanhee Lee
Agriculture technology investor Michael Rose says vertical sunless farms are more expensive to run than modern greenhouses that rely on sunlight, supplemented by LED lights. He sees limited areas where it makes sense, such as the Middle East, where much of the food is imported, or China’s mega-cities where pollution and urban sprawl limit the availability of premium fresh food.
At Plenty’s new farm, robots put seedlings in tall, vertically hung planters. The planters move along a wall of LED lights for 10 days, and are then put through a harvesting machine that shaves off the leafy greens.
The machines minimize labor needs, and Plenty says the speed of production also helps control pests.
“We use no pesticides,” said Nate Storey, co-founder and chief scientist at Plenty. “We don’t even have to use things like ladybugs, because we go so fast in our production that we out-race the pests themselves.”
Reporting by Jane Lanhee Lee; editing by Peter Henderson and Leslie Adler
Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
US (MA): Hydroponic Growing Graduates Learned With Lettuce, Seek Jobs in Cannabis
"The skills they learn in the (shipping containers) are transferable to the cannabis industry," Morse said.
Ernesto Hernandez Martin graduated Thursday from the Freight Farms Hydroponic Growing apprenticeship program at Holyoke Community College, having learned how to grow lettuce in the controlled environment of two shipping containers. But that’s not all he can grow.
“I’m looking forward to getting a job in the new industries, either in marijuana or in growing vegetables,” Hernandez Martin said while leading a tour of Freight Farms on Race Street in the city’s industrial Flats neighborhood and adjacent to the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute.
Neither college officials or Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse were shy Thursday about linking the hydroponic program with the city’s new marijuana industry and its need for skilled labor. They also said the program has the potential to help feed Holyokers who have trouble affording healthy meals.
"The skills they learn in the (shipping containers) are transferable to the cannabis industry," Morse said.
The college has no plans to grow anything but vegetables. The city, though, has embraced the newly legal cannabis industry.
Just this month, seed-to-sale marijuana company Trulieve Cannabis Corp., formerly Life Essence, bought a 150-year-old mill building at 56 Canal St. for $3.2 million with plans to build a 126,000-square-foot growing, processing, testing and retail operation there.
Source: MassLive (Jim Kinney)
Publication date: 7/1/2019