Wednesday, November 15, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello unveiled a new hydroponic farm at the Volunteers of America on Lake Avenue.
The new agriculture program is being called "The Farm," which is absent of soil and uses water-based nutrient solution at the base of the plants. The crops and herbs are potted and grown inside repurposed freight containers.
"Inside these containers is a farm that can grow between 4 and 8 tons of fresh produce every year," Bello said Wednesday. The farming units can produce nearly 2,000 units of produce in just one week, which Volunteers of America says can help feed more than 2,500 individuals.
In the 2021 Racial and Structural Equity Commission Report, affordability and lack of access to fresh produce were deemed a factor of health disparities with Black and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in Rochester and Monroe County. The report also mentions that residents living with obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure frequently reference food access and cost as major challenges.
Read more at 13wham.com