There’s a difference between being fed and being nourished. It took a shipping container, a delivery van, three state grants, and the coordination of partners who refuse to accept that fresh food is a luxury — but last Monday, that difference got a little smaller for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

Babylon Micro-Farms works with commercial organizations looking to grow fresh produce directly inside their facilities through hydroponic farming systems designed for year-round indoor cultivation. The company says the conversation around food access is changing across industries traditionally dependent on long supply chains and centralized sourcing models.

Hawaiʻi Department of Education is rolling out a new process that encourages small farm micropurchases of locally grown produce for school meals throughout the state in an effort to advance farm-to-school initiatives.