'Freight Farm' Bringing Fresh Food To The Quad City Botanical Center

Author: Nora Reichardts

Tapestry Farms, in collaboration with John Deere Foundation, River Bend Food Bank and the City of Rock Island introduced their new hydroponic "freight farm" on Monday, Dec. 4. The entire farm is contained within a single 320-square-foot freight container. Those officials said the farm will be able to provide as much food as two to four acres of traditional farmland while also helping conserve resources in the process. The farm will mostly grow leafy greens and some other vegetables.

The goal of the project is to help combat food insecurity in the local community, with the produce being distributed to those in need in the community. 

"We also know food banks are struggling with food donations going down, so retailers are getting more efficient with their inventory management, so looking at innovative ways to get food is just really critical right now," Laura Eberlin with John Deere said.

The farm was funded by a $371,000 grant from the John Deere Foundation.