In Tulsa County, the rate of food insecurity nears 14%, and for children, the rate of food insecurity is about 20%, according to the Oklahoma Food Bank. "We're in the middle of a food desert," Kevin Harper, CEO and president of Food on the Move, said.
But Food on the Move aims to put an end to food insecurity and the health problems it can cause. Their latest project, Urban Farms, will produce more than 100,000 pounds of fresh produce yearly using technology proven to be effective in increasing the quantity and quality of fresh produce.
"These plants grow 30% faster and use 90% less water, and everything is organic," Harper said. "Disney has been doing it for decades and how they're growing food for Disney World." In Disney World, the technology is used for mass production, but in Tulsa, there's a different focus.
"We're using it to focus on fighting food insecurity and empowering people to become their own entrepreneurs and be able to become urban farmers," Harper said. This facility is a four-phase project.
Read more at ktul.com