Tova Feinberg, the founder of Vertigreens, has spent the past five years developing a vertical hydroponic farming startup. Instead of using acres of soil, she grows lettuce on shelves that she stacks to the ceiling in shipping containers.

While the lettuce-driven cyclospora outbreak has generally been bad for businesses across the nation—including some St. Louis chefs who’ve been forced to take extra precautions—the outbreak has come with an upside for one St. Louis-area startup.

Josh Smith, owner of Neon Greens, outlined the advantages of their closed-environment agriculture. “We’re able to control the sun which are our led’s and the water, the best city water. We’re able to add nutrients to that water as you would your home,” Smith said.

The establishment grows three types of lettuce vertically within a thermally efficient shipping container, combining urban farming with a restaurant model off Manchester.