Good Morning America recently traveled to Lakewood, Colorado, to showcase how businesses and nonprofits are using technology to sustainably grow food near the consumer year-round. The segment focused on FarmBox Foods and two of its customers: Natural Grocers and Centura Health.
Ginger Zee, ABC News chief meteorologist, spoke to Rusty Walker, FarmBox Foods CEO, on June 20 at its headquarters in Sedalia, Colorado, about the company’s mission to build high-tech indoor farms that provide food security for those without reliable access to nutrient-dense food.
Zee also interviewed representatives from two FarmBox Foods customers, Natural Grocers and Centura Health, about their use of Vertical Hydroponic Farms. These systems provide a hyperlocal source of fresh produce while reducing environmental impacts and unpredictability associated with traditional farming. The farms are housed inside upcycled, insulated shipping containers that are outfitted with plumbing, electrical and sensors to control conditions inside.
By growing food on site, the companies that use FarmBoxes seek to reduce food sourcing costs, improve access and eliminate food waste because the veggies get to the plate quicker.
The controlled-climate container farms provide an ideal growing environment for the plants and shield them from weather and climate impacts, including drought, heat waves and flooding.
Natural Grocers is growing organic lettuce behind its Green Mountain store in Lakewood, Colorado, not far from the display case, and plans to expand the program elsewhere.
“Natural Grocers’ GardenBox offering has been a great addition to our Green Mountain store, providing our customers with the freshest, organic greens possible,” said Michael Boardman, GardenBox manager for Natural Grocers.
“The folks at FarmBox have been a great team for Natural Grocers to partner with as they share the same goal of empowering local communities with access to wholesome, affordable foods. We look forward to growing this program to additional stores in the future.”
For more information, visit naturalgrocers.com.
To watch the segment from Zee on Natural Grocers and FarmBox Foods, click here.
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