A new hydroponic farm in Aliquippa aims to provide fresh, hyperlocal produce year-round while supporting sustainable agriculture practices. GetBlok Farms announced the launch of its hydroponic farm in the West Aliquippa neighborhood in early July.
The farm, fitted in a freight container designed by Boston-based Freight Farms, can grow more than 90 crops simultaneously – including leafy greens, herbs, and roots – using hydroponic techniques that "consume 97% less water than traditional farming methods." The farm is able to grow 2.5 acres of produce in less than 320 square feet of space using sensors and cloud technologies to ensure ideal growing conditions.
"Our mission is simple: move farms, not food," said Vinnie Lima, managing member at GetBlok Farms. "By bringing agriculture closer to the consumers, we dramatically reduce the time and distance traveled between 'farm to fork.' This results in an astounding reduction of over 1,500 miles in transportation, leading to a substantial decrease in CO2 emissions and waste."
GetBlok Farms primarily serves the community through subscriptions, focused on residents, restaurants, and chefs within a 10-mile radius of the farm.
Read more at timesonline.com