UW-Stevens Point at Marshfield has partnered with Fork Farms and Marshfield Clinic to provide healthy foods through hydroponic farming.

“It was a dream, but today the dream has come to fruition,” said Anthony Andrews, campus executive at UWSP at Marshfield.

Within one year, UWSP at Marshfield has turned one of its rooms into an indoor hydroponic garden. The plants grow with nutrient-rich water instead of soil.

“Instead of the sun, we’ve got these highly efficient grow lights. Instead of a hose, we have a recirculating irrigation system. And it’s really the magic is in how simple it is,” said Alex Tyink, CEO of Fork Farms.

Wellstar Hospital in Georgia operates an onsite container farm called “WellFarm” through a partnership with FarmBox Foods.

The vertical farm supplies fresh herbs and greens for patient meals, the hospital bistro, and the gift shop.

Produce grown onsite is used for nutritional therapy, particularly for immunocompromised patients. The farm supports community engagement and wellness programming.

• FarmBox Foods helps hospitals estimate financial and nutritional ROI before the implementation of their container farms.

• Key factors include operational costs, yield, reduced readmissions, and local sourcing benefits.

• Predictable production enables budget planning over the long term.

• Bonus depreciation incentives make CAPEX more attractive for institutions.

• ROI is also measured in patient outcomes, staff wellness, and community engagement.

At AdventHealth, that idea is becoming reality. By integrating locally grown produce into patient care, they’re proving that access to fresh food can heal both people and communities.

Freight Farms is proud to help make it possible, with technology that brings food production on-site, ensuring healthcare systems can nourish patients sustainably, reliably, and year-round.

Because when hospitals grow food, they grow health. Join us for a free 30-minute webinar: Fueling the Food as Medicine Movement.

• Vertical farming is being adopted by healthcare systems to provide fresh, nutrient-rich food directly onsite.

• FarmBox Foods offers shipping container farms designed for non-farmers, with training and operational support.

• Hospitals use these systems for patient meals, cafeteria offerings, and community outreach.

• Vertical farming contributes to ESG goals and therapeutic agriculture initiatives.

• Early adopters are using it for wellness programs, cost control, and food system resilience.

Fork Farms, an innovator in food access technology, is proud to announce a new partnership with HPS LLC, a Delaware not-for-profit limited liability company that works to strengthen communities by helping its members fulfill their missions.

This two-year agreement, effective February 1, 2025, through January 31, 2027, brings @HPS’ member institutions access to sustainable, hyper-local food production. The HPS reference contract number is 1080 and will reflect the most current pricing and availability.

HPS' membership is made up of more than 4,900 organizations in 36 states. Membership includes: hospitals, medical groups, senior living facilities, schools and educational groups, senior nutritional feeding programs, county governments, religious organizations, camps, jails, and more.

Hospital-based farming is an innovative approach that integrates agricultural practices within healthcare settings to improve patient outcomes. Hospitals can enhance patient recovery, reduce food insecurity, and promote overall well-being by providing fresh, nutritious food directly from on-site farms. 

This blog, supported by recent research, explores the benefits of hospital-based farming and offers practical insights for hospitals and healthcare systems looking to implement such initiatives.