The Appleton International Airport just got a little greener. A new hydroponics gardening system is keeping things fresh in the terminal.
The airport just harvested its first batch of lettuce from their new hydroponics gardening system. Last month, the on-site Flex Farm hydroponic farming system was installed. For this, the Appleton International Airport works with Fork Farms, a local social enterprise in Green Bay.
Fork Farms is an indoor agriculture technology company that partners with communities to make the process of producing healthy food accessible to the world. Their hydroponic unit uses only water, air, nutrients, and LED lighting to grow 300 pounds of fresh greens annually.
These fresh greens produced by the unit will be harvested just steps away from ATW’s Fox Cities Eatery restaurant. Todd Arter is the airport custodian and one of his duties is to water and harvest the lettuce. He was also designated as the first taste tester.
"Fresh, crisp, the taste just melts in your mouth," said Arter. "It's not like the lettuce you buy in the store. Very good. Very fresh."