Volunteers of America's Upstate New York Hydroponic Operation Feeds Over 100 Families Daily
"I think this is a very easy model to replicate across the nation"
Two container farms on the grounds of Volunteers of America's Upstate New York campus have become a working part of how the organization addresses food insecurity among its clients. Running for two years, the programme supplies leafy greens, beans, root vegetables, and herbs to on-site shelters, a children's centre, and partner organizations in the surrounding community.
Elyse Jones, Marketing and Community Engagement Manager at Volunteers of America Upstate New York, says the farm fits into a broader organizational philosophy. "We are constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community. We saw that food insecurity was a big issue, and that was something that we wanted to make sure that we helped address."
From nursery to harvest
The farms, two Greenery S models from Freight Farms, offer a reliability that matters for the mission, according to Alec Camp, Lead Farmer. "We're able to regulate the temperature, the humidity, the lights, and the water schedule for all the crops. It also protects the produce from the weather, as well as things like pests."
